Mass incarceration not only affects the individuals behind bars but also has far-reaching consequences for their families, particularly children and loved ones left behind. Children of incarcerated parents often face significant psychological challenges and are more likely to experience multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). These experiences increase the risk of future incarceration, creating a cycle of trauma, and harming the future of our State. Economically, families of incarcerated individuals struggle with housing instability and limited employment opportunities, further hindering their financial stability and prospects.
However, there are initiatives aimed at alleviating these burdens. Programs that facilitate family visitations and provide counseling services help maintain family bonds and offer emotional support. Advocacy efforts and reforms work to improve economic mobility and promote systemic changes. These efforts aim to break the cycle of incarceration, fostering a future where all families can heal and succeed.
The Emotional Toll on Families
The emotional toll of having a family member incarcerated is immense. Children of incarcerated parents often experience feelings of shame, guilt, and abandonment, leading to psychological distress and behavioral issues. Researchers categorize these negative events into ACEs and measure their impact on children. Children of incarcerated parents are exposed to nearly five times as many other ACEs as their counterparts without incarcerated parents. This ends up creating a cycle because those with a high number of ACE scores are more likely to go to prison as an adult. For instance, 59.9% of female prisoners reported experiencing four or more ACEs during their own childhood compared to just 8.4% of the general population.
The strain is just as great for the individual incarcerated. People enter the prison system, often with already existing trauma, and then are subjected to additional trauma including violence, loneliness, and in some cases, solitary confinement. Research consistently demonstrates that the cumulative effect of trauma greatly increases the likelihood of individuals developing a mental illness, such as psychosis. Substance abuse and mental health are intimately linked, with one study finding that 60% of methamphetamine users had a mental illness, indicating that the three problems of mass incarceration, mental health, and substance abuse, all feed off of each other.
Family Economic Mobility
Oklahoma’s over-reliance on prisons and jails has not only created a toll on many of our State’s children, but has seriously limited their future economic mobility as well. The fact is a stay in prison can be disastrous for an individual's financial stability. Formerly incarcerated individuals are 10 times more likely to suffer from housing instability upon release and even when an individual does find a job, it is more than likely to be a low-quality one. An incarcerated person loses, on average, over $400,000 in lost earnings over their lifetime. These are not just problems for that individual but also their children.
Allowing families to have upward economic mobility, or at least not crippling those chances with a criminal record, creates a brighter future for our whole State. For example, young children from struggling families who move to low-poverty neighborhoods have been found to have an annual income 31% higher. Mass incarceration will have an effect on our State for years because family income is highly correlated with future incarceration. One study found there are more individuals in prison coming from the poorest 1% of families than the top 15% of wealthiest families combined. The way Oklahoma currently uses its correctional system will ensure that prisons and jails remain a drain on both our State budget and our families well into the future.
Initiatives to Support Families Affected by Incarceration
Despite these challenges, there are initiatives and support services aimed at mitigating the impact of incarceration on families. At the individual level, visitation programs provide opportunities for families to maintain connections with incarcerated loved ones, reducing the likelihood of recidivism and strengthening family bonds while counseling services offer emotional support and coping strategies for families dealing with the trauma of incarceration.
Advocacy efforts for criminal justice reform seek to address the root causes of mass incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration that prioritize rehabilitation and community support. SQ781 funds will help Oklahoma’s 77 counties fight against mass incarceration by providing mental health and substance abuse treatment, while OCJR and other like-minded groups, fight for economic mobility for families at the Capitol.
Conclusion
Despite the immense challenges posed by mass incarceration, there are numerous success stories that highlight the positive impact of reform efforts. Programs that prioritize rehabilitation and community support over punitive measures have shown promising results, reducing recidivism and helping individuals reintegrate into society. These reforms offer a message of hope to families across Oklahoma: through continued effort and compassion, we can create a future where families are no longer torn apart by incarceration but instead, have the support and opportunities they need to thrive.
