1. Experts speak on
Children whose
parent has been
Incarcerated
A Presentation by Experts
Tracy Denny
January 19, 2014
PSY 496

2. More than 2.7 million children in the U.S. have an
incarcerated parent and approximately 10 million
children have
experienced parental incarceration at some point in their
lives.
It has been indicated that children with parents
incarecerated are disposed to criminal activity
and are more likely to be incarcerated
themselves but there is no basis in research on
that issue.
Does it raise the chances of the child becoming
incarcerated?
Does having parents incarcerated change the
childs behavior?

3. Introducing our experts
Dr.Ester Silverman,
PhD, Developmental
Psychologist

Expert 1

Counsels children between
the ages of 5 and 17 years
of age. Conducts research
on children with a parent
and/or parents
incarcerated.
Dr. Sara Smith, MD,
Child Mental Health
Specialist

Expert 2

Works with children from
the ages from birth to 18
years old. Specializes in
development through
childhood.

4. Dr. Ester Silverman

Dr. Silverman's evaluation of the
contributions of psychological research on
behavior of children with parents
incarecerated is that it depends on the
relationship between the parent and child
before incarceration.

Dr. Silverman also suggests that statistics
show children with incarcerated parents
also have higher risk in becoming
incarcerated.
Visit http://www.osborneny.org for more
information

5. Dr. Sara Smith
Dr. Smith suggests Children and families
with incarcerated parents not only face the
trauma of loss, but also a range of
economic and social conditions that result
from incarceration.
Children of incarcerated parents are at
elevated risk of homelessness, foster care
placement, and infant mortality.
Visit http://policyforresults.blogspot.com
for more information

6. [Compare and contrast]
Dr. Silverman
1.
Believes it
depends on the
relationship of
the child and
parent before
incarceration
2.
Believes higher
chance in
becoming
incarcerated
Both
doctors
believe
parental
incarcerati
on can have
an affect
on a childs
behavior
Dr. Smith
1.
Will affect
the child
regardless
of
relationship
2.
Children not
destined for
crime.

7. References
Aspe.hhs.gov. (2014). Effects of parental incarceration on young
children. [online] Retrieved from:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/prison2home02/parke-stewart.htm
[Accessed: 19 Jan 2014].
osborneny.org. (2013). N ew york initiative for. [online] Retrieved
from:
http://www.osborneny.org/images/uploads/printMedia/Initiative
%20CIP%20Stats_Fact%20Sheet.pdf [Accessed: 19 Jan 2014].
Piotrowski, C. (2012). Research areas of emphasis in professional
psychology: Past and current trends. Journal of Instructional
Psychology, 39(2), 131-135. Retrieved from the ProQuest
database.
Policyforresults.blogspot.com. (2013). Policy for results blog: the farreaching impact of parental incarceration on children. [online]
Retrieved from: http://policyforresults.blogspot.com/2013/09/thefar-reaching-impact-of-parental.html [