Future crime rates could also decrease if more children grow up in homes with their fathers. One emerging school of thought believes that recent policy changes in criminal justice which were intended to lower crime rates, may in fact have resulted in increased crime rates. Perhaps more disturbingly, Clear cites the recent changes in the drug laws as increasing the recruitment of younger people to replace the offenders who have been imprisoned. While the number of men imprisoned increases, Clear believes the impact on crime is minimal, but the increasing number of children whose fathers are imprisoned may actually increase the potential for crime over a longer period of time. Father absence is one of the unintended consequences of incarceration.
Many states feel they have enough information.
They have chosen not to wait for more studies that link fathers in prison to the future prospects of their children. What follows is a listing of some facts and research on this issue, limited as it is, followed by a description of some of the specific state activities that are taking place to promote responsible fatherhood among prisoners. While expectations are high, the results of these programs are almost universally untested. Some are just getting started. The programs are not being tested for results on recidivism rates, on outcomes for children, for effects on future child support payments, or on the cost effectiveness for the governments involved.