HIDDEN VICTIMS OF INCARCERATION & THE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEM Jerry Bednarowski Group Chair, Correctional Education Association of WI Mary Pohlman Teacher, Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution Andrea Uherka Social Worker, Waupun Correctional Institution

U.S. Data

U.S. is the world’s leading jailer with a 762/100,000 population

U.S. Data Racial Disparity in incarceration rates: Black’s are 5.8x White Race Latino's are 2.5x White Race

Wisconsin Data Number of prisoners grew from 7,000 in 1995 to about 22,000 today The Department of Corrections (DOC) annual budget grew from $200 million in 1990 to $1.3 billion today In 2011 Wisconsin hit a milestone spending more on prisons and jails at $2.25 billion than the University of Wisconsin System at $2.1 billion About 6% if Wisconsites are African American, but more than 50% of the prison inmates are African American

Resources for Father’s that are Incarcerated Parenting Programs: vary by institution and security level – Inside out Dads and the Nurturing Father’s Program is what the Wisconsin DOC uses Focuses on: » How to develop a parenting style » Child Development » Discipline » Self-Esteem » Communication

Resources for Father’s that are Incarcerated Reading Programs: – FLORR & Reading Connections » Fathers read a book which gets video taped and sent to the child » Promotes incarcerated parents to stay in touch with their children Education: – HSED, GED, Vocational Programs through he Wisconsin Technical School System both certificate & degree programs

Resources for Father’s that are Incarcerated AODA Programs Domestic Violence Sexual Offender Treatment Cognitive Intervention Program Religious services & programming Financial Literacy Personal Development Employability Job Fairs: Make contacts for future jobs Receive information on programs available in the community to use upon release

Resources for Mother’s that are Incarcerated Parenting Programs: – Active Parenting and Moms, INC Parenting Program » Active Parenting is a general parenting program used throughout all populations » Moms, INC is designed to develop parenting skills specifically of incarcerated mother Focuses on: *Parenting Styles *Child development *Discipline *Communication

Resources for Mother’s that are Incarcerated AODA Programs Academic/Vocational Programs Domestic Violence Sexual Offender Treatment Financial Literacy Personal Development Employability Family Support Module Personal Wellness Recreational Programs Religious Services Institutional Jobs Resource Fairs Psychological Services Programming

Resources for Mother’s that are Incarcerated St. Rose Visitation: Children are referred by the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare. Children are able to visit as frequently as the BMCW specifies. Staff supervise the visits and facilitate positive interactions and intervene as necessary. After the visit is completed staff take the child(ren) out to eat and debrief about the visit. Children are provided stamped envelopes to send letters to their parents. Family Connections: Allows inmates the opportunity to read a book to their child(ren) and have it video taped. The DVD and books is sent to the child with a special note from mom at no cost to the inmate.

Visitation for Families Visits : Each facility has its own policy & amenities -Typically 3 times total a week: -One visit on a 3-day Holiday -One visit per weekend (2 hours long) -One visit per weekday (3 hours long)

Homestead Extended Visits (only at Taycheedah) – 1 time a month a 6 hour visit is scheduled on a Saturday & 2 staff supervise (a teacher and/or social worker). Multiple inmates with their children under 18 are able to participate, no more that 12 people in total at a time. (including inmates) – Families are able to play games, make crafts, play outside, have gym time, and make & eat lunch together. If it is the month of the child’s birthday they are able to make a cake together. – The day should model a typical outside an institution setting.

Number of Children Effected 1.7 million American children are separated from an imprisoned parent with millions more having parents in jail One in every 28 children has an incarcerated parent. In 1990, one in every 125 children had an incarcerated parent. 55% state prisoners are parents of children under 18 years old

Impact on Children--the Hidden Victims Arrest Phase: One in five children are present at the time of the arrest and witnesses the mother being taken away by authorities More than half of the children who witness this traumatic event are under 7 years of age and in the sole care of their mother Children who witnessed the arrest and reported that they suffered nightmares and flashbacks to the arrest incident Children in middle childhood who are in school at the time of the arrest may return to an empty residence and be unaware of the arrest of their parent

Impact on Children--the Hidden Victims Long Term Affects Infants: *If an emotional bond is not attached to the parent, the likely result that the children will have emotional and behavioral problems. Young Children: *Even if at infant stage an attachment/bond was created an insecure attachment could form. *Children exhibit internalized problems, such as anxiety, withdrawal, hypervigilance, depression, shame and guilt.

Impact on Children--the Hidden Victims School Aged Children: *School-age children of incarcerated parents exhibit school- related problems and problems with peer relationships. *Over 50% of the children of incarcerated parents had school problems, such as poor grades or instances of aggression-as children reach adolescence, suspension and dropout rates are higher for these children *Another school-based problem is that children are sometimes teased or ostracized by other children as a result of their parent’s incarceration.

Possible Developmental Effects on Children of Parental Crime, Arrest, and Incarceration Developmental Stage Developmental Characteristics Developmental Tasks Influencing Factors Effects Infancy (0-2 years) Total DependencyAttachment and trustParent-child separationImpaired parent-child bonding Early Childhood (2-6 years) Increased perception and mobility; incomplete individuation from parent Sense of autonomy, independence and initiative Parent-child separation, Trauma Anxiety, developmental regression, acute traumatic stress, survivor guilt Middle Childhood (7-10 years) Increased independence, ability to reason, importance of peers Sense of industry, ability to work productively Parent-child separation, enduring trauma Acute traumatic stress and reactive behaviors Early Adolescence (11-14 years) Increasing abstract thinking, future- oriented behavior, aggression, puberty Ability to work productively with others, control of emotions Parent-child separation, enduring trauma Rejection of limits on behavior, trauma- reactive behaviors Late Adolescence (15-18 years) Emotional crisis and confusion, adult sexual development, abstract thinking, independence Achieves identity, engages in adult work and relationships, resolves conflicts with family and society Parent-child separation enduring-trauma Premature termination of parent-child relationship, intergenerational crime and incarceration Source: Dr. Denise Johnston, “effects of Parental Incarceration,” in Gabel and Johnston, p. 68.

Children of Incarcerated Parents Experience *Anger *Fighting in School *Shame/Embarrassment *Emotional Problems *Nightmares *Truancy *Decline in academic performance *Use of Drugs & Alcohol *Sense of Abandonment *Guilt *Fear (California Research Bureau, March 2000)

Effects on boys vs. girls Boys Boys are more likely to exhibit externalizing behavior problems Girls Girls are more likely to display internalizing problems

Children of Incarcerated Parents are more likely to lose their family forever The Adoption & Safe Families Act of 1997 allows for termination of parental rights if a child has been in the foster care system for 15 to 22 months at a times. (Wisconsin Public Defender Review of Relevant Racial Disparity Literature, 2009.)

Resources for Incarcerated Parents and Their Families Circles of Support Fair Shake Family and Corrections Network Sesame Street Workshop dniEig38 dniEig38

Resources for Incarcerated Parents and Their Families Corrections Education Association –Wisconsin *Reaching Out: A Handbook for Parents Incarcerated in Wisconsin * Reaching In: A Handbook for Families of Parents Incarcerated in Wisconsin * Prison Parenting Programs: Resources for Parenting Instructors in Prisons and Jails * Parenting Connection Newsletter

What is the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Doing? **Participation in Federal Action Plan for Improving Responses to Children of Incarcerated Parents **Re-Entry/Pre-Release Programs stressing parenting skills and parent/child connections

Reform Alliance Researchers Budget Cutters Community Based Organizations Faith Based Groups

Promising Developments Continued decline in crime rate Public Support for sentencing reform Second Chance Act-RAND Study 11x15 Campaign for Justice Juvenile Justice Reforms Children of Incarcerated Parents Initiative

Former Miss Wisconsin and Miss America 2012, Laura Kaeppler said, “A parent in prison does not have to define your life.” She has first handed experience and knowledge of having a parent incarcerated.