Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

Incarceration impacts many more people than those behind bars. As the number of incarcerated individuals continues to rise, the effects of incarceration have become more 2 pronounced in society. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1.5 million minors deal with parental incarceration every year (Harrison & Beck, 2006). Parental incarceration has been linked with various short-term and long-term risk factors for children, including an increased risk of incarceration (Johnston, 1995). In addition, children with incarcerated parents are more likely to suffer from mental health issues, have behavioral problems, drop out of high school or experience issues related to school performance (Farraington, 2002). Research indicates that the overall effects of parental incarceration differ based on whether a child's mother or father is incarcerated (Berry and Eigenberg, 2003). The length of sentencing and placement of children during an incarceration differ for incarcerated fathers versus mothers (Mumola, 2000). Extensive separations from children have been shown to have an impact on incarcerated parents as well (Schafer & Dellinger, 1999). 3 The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of parental incarceration on mothers, fathers and children in depth. This study also examined the availability and efficacy of programming and services available to incarcerated parents and their families which may mitigate many of the negative effects associated with parental incarceration. Recommendations were made regarding programming needs and ways schools could assist children and families affected by parental incarceration.