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Growing Up with Incarcerated Parents: The Beginning

Growing Up with Incarcerated Parents The Beginning By Davis81 - Research Intern Can you imagine being ten years old going from the life you knew to a new life without one of your parents? I can vividly remember walking from the bus stop with my younger sister and cousins to get home and see that my mother wasn't home… How awkward was it for something to just change up without any warning? That was the first experience that I could recall that made a significant impact on my life. I had to readjust in a different city, make new friends, and learn to be without my mother and siblings at ten years old. Some people may think that was an early age, but she’ll be alright, but the truth is some days I was okay, and other days I wouldn't be. When I found out my mom was going to prison, it hurt me to the core because my provider wasn't going to be there anymore. I eventually then moved in with my Aunt, but she could not take care of my mom’s four children, my teenage Aunt, and h…

The Impact of Deportation on Family Members and Communities

The Impact of Deportation on Family Members and Communities By LaQuittis L. - Research Intern With the development of harsher immigration policies and restrictions, deportation over the past few decades has increased in the U.S. Additionally, prohibitive policies created by legislatures have encouraged antagonistic attitudes towards undocumented immigrants, which places families at higher risk of being separated (Lovato, 2019). Although there are set exemptions, policies under the Immigration and Nationality Act limits exemptions for parents of U.S. citizen children while relatives such as grandparents are ineligible. Many deported individuals are forced to return to dangerous, unstable environments from which they've tried to escape. Challenges such as loss of or limited communication have resulted in severed relationships with family members. The impact of separation involves economic hardship, housing instability, and food insecurity, which puts more pressure on the rema…

Growing Up with Incarcerated Parents: Series Introduction

Growing Up with Incarcerated Parents Series Introduction By Davis81 - Research Intern I am sure we can all attest to “being on the outside looking in” to some degree. Well, I would like to take you all on a journey and share one of the most significant events I encountered as a child. I can count on my hands the number of people I have told the story about growing up with a parent who was incarcerated. I know it will be different, knowing that I will start writing about it and putting it out on the internet. With this series, I plan to talk about my experience with an incarcerated parent in all aspects. For instance, how it made me feel, what the cons were, what my life was like growing up without a parent, etc. I want to travel back in time and paint an image for you. I want to talk about the beginning, middle, and end of growing up with an incarcerated parent. I plan to be as transparent as possible and share all that I can remember. I am honored to share this part of m…

The Impact of Parental Incarceration on Children

The Impact of Parental Incarceration on Children By Briana J. - Research Intern The effects of incarceration are not just felt by the imprisoned individual. In many cases, there are people who remain “hidden” in the criminal justice system who are impacted by incarceration. These “hidden” individuals are usually families and children of the imprisoned person. By default, children with incarcerated parents inevitably become entangled in the world of incarceration. In many situations, these children have to deal with the consequences of their parent’s imprisonment with virtually no support in understanding their situation. Parental incarceration has tremendous consequences and effects on a child’s development and upbringing. The problems of the prison system bleed into the lives of those indirectly affected by this system. Children can face problems surrounding their physical, emotional, financial, and educational well-being (Umamaheswar 287). This resulting separation be…

School to Prison Pipeline

School to Prison Pipeline By Lindsay B. - Research Intern What is the School-to-Prison Pipeline? The school to prison pipeline is a term used to describe the trend in which students begin school but eventually end up in juvenile and criminal justice systems. The relationship between education and the court systems has led to disciplinary policies that often promote the criminalization of young students. When an education system employs harsh punishments for minor violations, this violent cycle is created. Students are repeatedly over-punished by methods that do not effectively reform their behavior (e.g., in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension); this leads to repeat offenses, which can then lead them to a criminal offense. How is this process created? There are numerous aspects that contribute to this process. As an example, let’s consider suspension. When a student is suspended, they are not receiving an education, they are missing in-class work that cannot b…

The Redemption Project

The Redemption Project Do you have a family member or loved one incarcerated in Minnesota? Do you worry that their incarceration will affect their chances of ever finding meaningful employment? There is hope. The Redemption Project works with select Minnesota prison facilities to provide inmates with education and mentoring opportunities while incarcerated and help them secure meaningful employment upon release. They utilize a three-stage process – Educate, Advocate, and Support – to guide their participants through a successful reentry. Visit www.redemptionproject.org to learn more. For other reentry resources available nation-wide and in Minnesota visit probationinfo.org/reentry-resources.

Reentry After Solitary Confinement

Reentry After Solitary Confinement By Connor H. - Research Intern While the transition for any offender is one that is full of challenges and barriers that they have to work through to be successful after being incarcerated, there is a group of inmates that have to deal with an entirely different set of challenges. This group is the offenders who have had to serve some portion of their time in solitary confinement. At any level of incarceration, solitary confinement is primarily used to punish disobedient inmates by housing them alone for 23 hours a day. There are two reasons why being in solitary confinement has a greater set of challenges than those who served time in general housing, the first is the mental effects solitary confinement has on a person the other is the deterioration of social skills. Both of these attributes are vital to an offender being successful after serving time and are greatly hindered when a person is isolated for extended amounts of time. …

Federal Bonding Program

The Federal Bonding Program One of the primary challenges for returning citizens is finding a job because employers often view ex-offenders as risky hires. The Federal Bonding Program works to encourage employers to give returning citizens a chance by offering bonds for at-risk job applicants, including justice-involved individuals. What is it? The US Department of Labor created the Federal Bonding Program in 1966 to encourage employers to hire potentially risky job seekers. Since then, over 52,000 at-risk job seekers have been bonded, giving a hiring incentive and peace of mind to the employers. How does it work? The FBP bonds guarantee reimbursement for the employer in the case of any loss due to employee theft. They can range in value from $5,000 to $25,000 and cover the first six months of the bonded individual’s employment at no cost to the employer. These bonds can be used for any job in the U.S. Applying for jobs with a criminal record can be stressful bu…

What Can People Send Me in Federal Prison?

What Can People Send Me in Federal Prison? In the Federal Bureau of Prisons there are no care packages. So what can people send you in federal prison? Besides putting money on your account and writing you letters, the only things your loved ones can send you are magazine subscriptions and books. And while you'll be grateful for anything someone sends you, it's better to get reading material you'll actually enjoy reading. Check your assigned facility’s policies, but most facilities require books to come straight from the publisher or a book club or a bookstore like Amazon, which means your loved ones won't be able to mail books directly which is why the Amazon Wish List is the best way to go. If you have someone create an Amazon Wish List for you, you can choose what books or authors or genres of books you want to receive. This also makes sure your shipping address is correct every time and that you don’t get multiple copies of the same book. And it’s easy for them t…

Do Sex Offenders Have to Take Polygraphs?

Do Sex Offenders Have to Take Polygraphs? Yes. Polygraphs exams, or lie detector tests, are used by most federal districts to ensure that sex offenders are in compliance with the requirements of their supervision or treatment program. They are administered periodically, usually every six months, and generally last between 1.5-2 hours. The examination technique will be explained to your satisfaction prior to the onset of the examination and a detailed interview will be conducted by the polygraph examiner. Based on that interview, the examiner will develop the questions for the actual test. All the questions that will be asked during the polygraph examination will be read and reviewed with you, and you will be given an opportunity to ask for clarification of these questions before the examination is administered. Complete honesty during this phase is recommended since the exam will likely expose any dishonesty. While an admission of guilt may still result in consequence…

Prison Release Hotline

Prison Release Hotline Empowering Men and Women on The Move for Re-Entry, Inc. is a supportive housing program in Metro Atlanta for men who have been incarcerated. They recently added a prison release hotline for men to connect with Fulton County services, including: Employment/Career Apprenticeship Temporary Housing Medical SNAP Benefits (Food Stamps) Substance Treatment Behavioral Health Counseling Mentoring Social Security Benefits (404) 654-0407

CHARG.org – Mental Health Resource

CHARG.org - Mental Health Resource Since 1983, the prison custody population in Colorado has increased over 500% with over 35,000 Colorado residents incarcerated in various kinds of facilities. With the vast amount of broad information, it can be increasingly difficult for an individual in the justice process or their loved ones to find the correct information and resources that they need to adequately readjust to life in the real world. CHARG Resource Center provides mental health support, homeless outreach, and more at various locations around Denver. If you or a loved one has been incarcerated and could use help, visit https://www.charg.org/ to see the resources available.