1 in 57 White Children 

1 in 28 

1 in 125 

.8% 

3.6% 

1980 2008

www.youth.gov/coip

CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS:

The IMPACT of Incarceration

In 2008 an estimated 2.7 million children, or 3.6%, had a parent in 

prison at that moment in time (including non-residential parents.) 

This was up from .8% in 1980. 1 

 of all children under 18 ­

 that is more than 5

 million children - have

 lived with a parent who

During a father’s incarceration, most children live with their mother while 

during a mother’s incarceration, most children live with a grandparent. 

7%

 went to jail or prison. 

Caregivers for Children During Parent’s Incarceration 3 

All Incarcerated Parents Incarcerated Fathers Incarcerated Mothers 

Other Parent 

Grandparent 

Other Relatives 

Foster Home or Agency 

Friends, Other 

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Detail may sum to more than 100% because some incarcerated parents had multiple minor children living with multiple caregivers. 

1 in 9 Black Children 1 in 28 Hispanic Children 

Children Who Have an Incarcerated Parent, by Race and Ethnicity 1 
Parental incarceration is recognized as an adverse childhood experience (ACE). It is distinguished from other ACEs by 

the unique combination of trauma, shame, and stigma. Parental incarceration increases the risk of a child living in 

poverty or experiencing household instability, independent of any other factors present in that child’s life. 5, 6 

Over 50% of children who have an incarcerated parent are age 9 or younger. 

Ages of Children Who Have a 

Parent in Federal or State Prison 3 Over half of the 2.3 million people incarcerated in state and 

federal prisons are parents with children under the age of 18, Less than 1 year 

2% including 1.1 million fathers and 120,000 mothers. Two-thirds of 3

incarcerated parents are convicted of non-violent crimes. 1

Long distances can separate children from their incarcerated parents. Men 

are housed in prisons an average of 100 miles away from their children 

while women are an average 160 miles away. 2 

In a recent survey of families impacted by incarceration, 2 in 3 families had 

Research shows the importance of maintaining strong family connections when a 

parent is incarcerated, but the cost of sustaining contact is high. In a recent survey of 

families impacted by incarceration, 1 in 3 families were in debt due to the 

extraordinary cost of phone calls and visits alone. 5 

1. The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2010. Collateral Costs: Incarceration’s Effect on Economic Mobility. The Pew Charitable Trusts.
	

 Available online at: http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/legacy/uploadedfiles/pcs_assets/2010/CollateralCosts1pdf.pdf
	

1-4 Years 

10-14 Years 5-9 Years 

15-17 Years 

16% 20% 

32% 30%

64.2% of mothers and 46.5% of fathers lived with their children in the month before 

arrest or just prior to incarceration. Over half of incarcerated parents were the primary 

source of financial support for their children prior to incarceration. 

FINANCIAL IMPACT 

3 

difficulty meeting basic financial needs as a direct result of incarceration. 

70% of these families had children under the age of 18. 5

When a father is incarcerated, 

his family’s income falls 22%. 

After release, family income 

is 15% lower than it was the 

year before his incarceration.1

2. Travis, J., et al., 2003. Families Left Behind: The Hidden Costs of Incarceration and Reentry. The Urban Institute Justice Policy Center. 

 Available online at: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/alfresco/publication-pdfs/310882-Families-Left-Behind.PDF 

3. Glaze, L.., and Maruschak, L., 2008. Parents in Prison and Their Minor Children Bureau of Justice Statistics. 

 Available online at: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/pptmc.pdf 

4. Felitti, V. J., et al., 1998. Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), pp 245-258. 

Available online at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9635069 

5. deVuono-Powell, S., et al., 2015. Who Pays? The True Cost of Incarceration on Families. Ella Baker Center, Forward Together, Research Action Design. 

Available online at: http://whopaysreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Who-Pays-FINAL.pdf 

6. Murphey, D., and Cooper, P., 2015. Parents Behind Bars: What Happens to Their Children? Child Trends. 

Available online at: http://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015-42ParentsBehindBars.pdf