CCC743 Children of Incarcerated Parents. Women with young children are the fastest growing group of inmates. Because of embarrassment or concern about the reactions of others, family members may not tell you, the caregiver, or the child that a parent is incarcerated. If you care for children who are not living with their biological parent, it is possible that the parent is incarcerated. Children whose parent is incarcerated are impacted in a number of ways.
Parents sometimes steal, sell drugs, or prostitute themselves to support their family.
Because they are egocentric, children may believe they are to blame. Depending on friends and others reactions to the incarceration, children may be embarrassed or ashamed. At the very least, they will be confused and try to make sense of their parent s incarceration or absence. Sometimes family members won t let incarcerated parents communicate with their children. Whatever the reason for no or little communication, children may feel rejected, unlovable, and abandoned.