Descriptive Studies

Children

  • Berger, L. M., Cancian, M., Cuesta, L., & Noyes, J. L. (2016). Families at the Intersection of the Criminal Justice and Child Protective Services Systems. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 665(1), 171–194. 
  • Bocknek, E. L., Sanderson, J., &Britner, P. A. (2008). Ambiguous loss and posttraumatic stress in school-age children of prisoners. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 18, 323-333. 
  • Boswell, G. (2002). Imprisoned fathers: The children’s view. The Howard Journal, 41(1), 14-26.
  • Cyphert, A. B. (2018). Prisoners of Fate: The Challenges of Creating Change for Children of Incarcerated Parents. Maryland Law Review, 77(2), 385–426.
  • Dallaire, D. H., Ciccone, A., & Wilson, L. C. (2010). Teachers’ experiences with and expectations of children with incarcerated parents.Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 31(4), 281-290.
  • Dichter, H., Ruprecht, K., & Tomlin, A. (2020). Exploring Early Care and Education Policy for Young Children of Incarcerated Parents. Zero to Three, 40(4), 51–58.

  • Dunlea, J. P., Wolle, R. G., & Heiphetz, L. (2020). Enduring Positivity: Children Of Incarcerated Parents Report More Positive Than Negative Emotions When Thinking about Close Others. Journal of Cognition and Development, 21(4), 494–512. 

  • Dworak-Peck, S. (2017). The Overlooked Trauma of Children with Parents Behind Bars | Blog | USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. https://dworakpeck.usc.edu/blog/the-overlooked-trauma-of-children-parents-behind-bars

  • Geller, Amanda & Garfinkel, Irwin & Cooper, Carey & Mincy, Ronald. (2009). Parental Incarceration and Child Well-Being: Implications for Urban Families. Social science quarterly. 90. 1186-1202. 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2009.00653.x.
  • Geller, A., Jaeger, K., Pace, G., T. (2016). Surveys, Records, and the Study of Incarceration in Families, 22-43. 
  • Glaze, L. E., &Maruschak, L. M. (2008). Parents in prison and their minor children(NCJ 222984). Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics.
  • Goshin, L. S., Byrne, M. W., & Blanchard-Lewis, B. (2014). Preschool Outcomes of Children Who Lived as Infants in a Prison Nursery. The Prison Journal, 94(2), 139–158.
  • Haskins, A. (2014). Unintended Consequences: Effects of Paternal Incarceration on Child School Readiness and Later Special Education Placement. Sociological Science, 1, pp.141-158.
  • Jones, D. (2017). When Are You Coming Home: An Exploratory Essay Confronting the Issues Involving Children with Incarcerated Parents and How to Break the Cycle. Loyola Law Review, 63(3), 441–446.
  • Kramer, K., & Burton, C. F. (2018). What Little We Know: A System-Wide Descriptive Study on Children of Incarcerated Parents. Contemporary Research and Analysis on the Children of Prisoners: Invisible Children, 209.
  • Kremer, K. P., Poon, C. Y. S., Jones, C. L., Hagler, M. A., Kupersmidt, J. B., Stelter, R. L., Stump, K. N., & Rhodes, J. E. (2020). Risk and Resilience among Children with Incarcerated Parents: Examining Heterogeneity in Delinquency and School Outcomes. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 29(11), 3239–3252. 
  • Lopez, C., & Bhat, C.S. (2007). Supporting students with incarcerated parents in schools: A group intervention. Journal of Specialists in Group Work, 32, 139-153. 
  • Lotze, G. M., Ravindran, N., & Myers, B. J. (2010). Moral emotions, emotion self-regulation, callous-unemotional traits, and problem behavior in children of incarcerated mothers. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 19(6), 702-713.
  • Luther, K. (2015), Examining Social Support Among Adult Children of Incarcerated Parents. Fam Relations, 64: 505–518.
  • Luther, K. (2016). Stigma Management among Children of Incarcerated Parents. Journal of Deviant Behavior, 37: 1264-1275.
  • Meek, R. (2008). Experiences of younger siblings of young men in prison. Children & Society, 22, 265-277.
  • Miller, K. M., Eddy, J. M., Borja, S & Lazzari, S. R., (2017). Variations in the Life of Incarcerated Parents by Race and Ethnicity: Implications for Service Provision, Smith College Studies in Social Work, 87:1,59-77, 
  • Miller, Keva M. (2006). The Impact of Parental Incarceration on Children: An Emerging Need for Effective Interventions. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 23(4), 472-486.
  • Morgan-Mullane, A. (2018). Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Children of Incarcerated Parents. Clinical Social Work Journal, 46(3), 200–209. 
  • Murray, J., & Murray L. (2010). Parental incarceration, attachment, and child psychopathology. Attachment and Human Development, 12, 289-309. 

  • Nesmith, A., &Ruhland, E. (2008). Children of incarcerated parents: Challenges and resiliency, in their own words. Children and Youth Services Review, 30, 1119-1130.

  • Phillips, S. D., & Gates, T. (2011). A conceptual framework for understanding the stigmatization of children of incarcerated parents.Journal of Child and Family Studies, 20(3), 286-294.
  • Poehlmann, J., Dallaire, D., Loper, A. B., & Shear, L. D. (2010). Children’s contact with their incarcerated parents: research findings and recommendations.American Psychologist, 65(6), 575.
  •  Poehlmann, Julie et al. “Children’s contact with their incarcerated parents: research findings and recommendations.” The American psychologist vol. 65,6 (2010): 575-98. 
  • Reimer, V. P. (2019). Hidden Children: Using Children’s Literature to Develop Understanding and Empathy Toward Children of Incarcerated Parents. Language & Literacy: A Canadian Educational E-Journal, 21(1), 98–121.
  • Roberts, Y. H., Snyder, F. J., Kaufman, J. S., Finley, M. K., Griffin, A., Anderson, J., Crusto, C. A. (2013). Children Exposed to the Arrest of a Family Member: Associations with Mental Health. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23(2), 214-224. 
  • Shindledecker, R. (660). (1993). Characteristics of children whose parents have been incarcerated. Hospital & Community Psychiatry.
  •  Siegel, J. A. (2011). Disrupted childhoods: Children of women in prison. Piscataway: Rutgers University Press
  • Smyke, A. T., Bailey, L. O., & Zeanah, C. H. (2017). Mental Health Implications for Children of Incarcerated Parents. Loyola Law Review, 63(3), 405–433.

  • Trent, M., Dooley, D. G., & Dougé, J. (2019). The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health. Pediatrics, 144(2), 

  • Turney K. & Wilderman, C. (2017) Child Abuse & Neglect: Adverse childhood experiences among children placed in and adopted from foster care: Evidence from a nationally representative survey, 64 117-129. 
  • Wakefield, S., Lee, H., & Wildeman, C., (2016). Tough on Crime, Tough on Families? Criminal Justice and Family Life in America. 8-21
  • Wakefield, S., Wildeman, C., &Wildeman, C. J. (2014). Children of the prison boom: mass incarceration and the future of American inequality. New York: Oxford University Press
  • Wakefield, S., &Wildeman, C. (2011). Mass imprisonment and racial disparities in childhood behavioral problems.Criminology & Public Policy,10(3), 793-817.
  • Wildeman, C. J. (2009). Parental imprisonment, the prison boom, and the concentration of childhood disadvantage. Demography, 46, 265-280.
  • Wildeman, C. (2010). Paternal incarceration and children’s physically aggressive behaviors: Evidence from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study.Social Forces, 89(1), 285-309.
  • Wildeman, C., & Wakefield, S. (2014). The long arm of the law: The concentration of incarceration in families in the era of mass incarceration. J. Gender Race & Just., 17, 367.
  • Xia, L., & Lam, C. (2020). Where is home? The lived experiences of Chinese children after their parents have been incarcerated. Journal of Social Work Practice, 34(2), 191–203. 

Families

  • Addams, J., Hairston, C.F., Rollin, J., & Jo, H. (2004). Family Connections During Imprisonment and Prisoners’ Community Reentry.

  • Arditti, J. A., Lambert-Shute, J., &Joest, K. (2003). Saturday morning at the jail: Implications of incarceration for families and children. Family Relations, 52(3), 195-204.
  • Arditti, J.A. (2003). Locked doors and glass walls. Family visiting at a local jail. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 8, 115-138. 
  • Burkholder, J., Burkholder, D., Hall, S., & Porter, V. (2020). Training Counselors to Work with the Families of Incarcerated Persons: A National Survey. Professional Counselor, 10(3), 318–326.
  • Christian, J., Mellow, J., & Thomas, S. (2006). Social and economic implications of family connections to prisoners. Journal of Criminal Justice, 34(4), 443-452.
  • Glaze, L. E., & Maruschak, L. M. (2008). Parents in prison and their minor children(NCJ 222984). Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics. Revised 3/30/2010.
  • Geller, A., Garfinkel, I., & Western, B. (2011). Paternal incarceration and support for children in fragile families.Demography, 48(1), 25-47.
  • Jones, D. (2017). When Are You Coming Home: An Exploratory Essay Confronting the Issues Involving Children with Incarcerated Parents and How to Break the Cycle. Loyola Law Review, 63(3), 441–446.
  • Kazura, K. (2001). Family programming for incarcerated parents: A needs assessment among inmates. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 32(4), 67-83.
  • Markariev, D., & Shaver, P.R. (2010). Attachment, parental incarceration, and possibilities for intervention: An overview. Attachment and Human Development, 12, 311-331. 
  • Mumola, C. J. (2000). Incarcerated parents and their children(NCJ-182335). Washington, DC: U. S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
  • Murray, J. (2007). The cycle of punishment: Social exclusion of prisoners and their children. Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 7(1), 55-81.
  • Murray, Joseph, and David P. Farrington. 2005. “Parental Imprisonment: Effects on Boys’ Antisocial Behaviour and Delinquency Through the Life-Course.” Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 46:1269-1278.
  • Phillips, S. D., Erkanli, A., Costello, E. J., &Angold, A. (2007). Differences among children whose mothers have a history of arrest. Women & Criminal Justice, 17(2/3), 45-63.

  •   PHILLIPS, S. D., ERKANLI, A. , KEELER, G. P., COSTELLO, E. J. and ANGOLD, A. (2006), DISENTANGLING THE RISKS: PARENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT AND CHILDREN’S EXPOSURE TO FAMILY RISKS. Criminology & Public Policy, 5: 677-702.

  • Phillips, Susan & Erkanli, Alaattin. (2008). Differences in patterns of maternal arrest and the parent, family, and child problems encountered in working with families. Children and Youth Services Review. 30. 157-172. 10.1016/j.childyouth.2007.09.003.
  • Roettger, M. E., Swisher, R. R., Kuhl, D. C., & Chavez, J. (2011). Paternal incarceration and trajectories of marijuana and other illegal drug use from adolescence into young adulthood: evidence from longitudinal panels of males and females in the United States. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 106(1), 121–132. 
  • Roxburgh, S., & Fitch, C. (2014). Parental Status, Child Contact, and Well-Being Among Incarcerated Men and Women.Journal Of Family Issues, 35(10), 1394. 

  • Shlafer, R., Duwe, G., & Hindt, L. (2019). Parents in prison and their minor children: Comparisons between state and national estimates. The Prison Journal, 99(3), 310-328.

  • Shlafer, R. J., & Poehlmann, J. (2010). Attachment and caregiving relationships in families affected by parental incarceration. Attachment & human development, 12(4), 395–415. 

  • Siegel, J. A., & Napolitano, L. (2021). Adult and child visiting at urban jails: Perspectives on visitation experiences and policies among visitors and people in jail. The Prison Journal, 101(3), 331-351.

  •   Smith, A., Krisman, K., Strozier, A. L., & Marley, M. A. (2004). Breaking through the Bars: Exploring the Experiences of Addicted Incarcerated Parents Whose Children Are Cared for by Relatives. Families in Society, 85(2), 187–195. 

  • Turney, K. , Schnittker, J. and Wildeman, C. (2012), Those They Leave Behind: Paternal Incarceration and Maternal Instrumental Support. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74: 1149-1165.

    Turney, Kristin, and Christopher Wildeman. 2013. “Redefining Relationships: Explaining The Countervailing Consequences of Paternal Incarceration for Parenting.” American Sociological Review 78:949-979.
  • Wakefield, S. (2014). Accentuating the positive or eliminating the negative: Paternal incarceration and caregiver-child relationship quality. J. Crim. L. & Criminology, 104, 905.
  • Wang, L. Research roundup: The positive impacts of family contact for incarcerated people and their families. Prison Police Initiative.
  • Wildeman, Christopher. 2012. “Imprisonment and Infant Mortality.” Social Problems 59:228-257.
  • Xia, L., & Lam, C. (2020). Where is home? The lived experiences of Chinese children after their parents have been incarcerated. Journal of Social Work Practice, 34(2), 191–203.

Mothers

  • Cecil, D.K., McHale, J., Strozier, A., &Pietsch, J. (2008). Female inmates, family caregivers, and young children’s adjustment: A research agenda and implications for corrections programming. Journal of Criminal Justice, 36, 513-521.
  • Geller, A. and Franklin, A. W. (2014), Paternal Incarceration and the Housing Security of Urban Mothers. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76: 411–427. 
  • Greene, S., Haney, C., &Hurator, A. (2000). Cycles of pain: Risk factors in the lives of incarcerated mothers and their children. The Prison Journal, 80(1), 3-23.
  • Hanlon, T. E., Blatchley, R. J., Bennett-Sears, T., Grady, K. E. O., Rose, M., &Callaman, J. M. (2005). The vulnerability of children of incarcerated addict mothers: Implications for preventive intervention. Child and Youth Services Review, 27, 67-84.
  • Poehlmann, J., Shlafer, R. J., Maes, E., &Hanneman, A. (2008). Factors associated with young children’s opportunities to maintaining family relationships during maternal incarceration. Family Relations, 57, 267- 280.
  • Poehlmann, J. (2005). Representations of attachment relationships in children of incarcerated mothers. Child Development, 76, 679-696.
  • Poehlmann, J. (2005). Incarcerated mothers’ contact with children, perceived family relationships, and depressive symptoms.Journal of Family Psychology,19(3), 350.
  • Poehlmann, J., Eddy, J. M., Dallaire, D. H., Zeman, J. L., Myers, B. J., Mackintosh, V., …&Burraston, B. (2013). Relationship processes and resilience in children with incarcerated parents.Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 78(3), vii-viii.
  • Shamai, M., &Kochal, R.-B. (2008). Motherhood starts in prison: The experience of motherhood among women in prison. Family Process, 47(3), 323-340.
  • Shlafer, R. J., & Poehlmann, J., &Donelan- Mccall, N. (2011). Maternal jail time, conviction, and arrest as predictors of children’s 15-year antisocial outcomes in the context of a nurse home visiting program. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology,41, 38-52, 
  • Smith, A., Krisman, K., Strozier, A. L., & Marley, M. A. (2004). Breaking through the bars: Exploring the experiences of addicted incarcerated parents whose children are cared for by relatives. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 85, 187-195.
  • Warren, J. M., Coker, G. L., & Collins, M. L. (2019). Children of Incarcerated Parents: Considerations for Professional School Counselors. Professional Counselor, 9(3), 185–199.
  • Wildeman, C., Schnittker, J., &Turney, K. (2012). Despair by association? The mental health of mothers with children by recently incarcerated fathers. American Sociological Review, 77(2), 216-243.
  • Young, D. S., & Smith, C. J. (2000). When moms are incarcerated: The needs of children, mothers, and caregivers. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 81(2), 130-141.

Fathers

  • Boswell, G. (2002). Imprisoned fathers: The children’s view. The Howard Journal, 41(1), 14-26.
  • Chui, W. H. (2016). Association Between Caregiver Stress and Behavioral Problems in the Children of Incarcerated Fathers in Hong Kong. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 20(10), 2074-2083.
  • Mendez, G. A. (2000). Incarcerated African American men and their children: A case study. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 569, 86-101.
  • Nurse, A. M. (2002). Fatherhood Arrested: Parenting from within the juvenile justice system: Vanderbilt University Press.
  • O’Connell, W. P. (2005). Families of incarcerated male alcohol and drug offenders: A multisystemic study. Journal of Family Social Work, 2(2), 1-23.
  • Roettger, Michael E., and Raymond R. Swisher. 2011. “Associations of Fathers’ History of Incarceration with Sons’ Delinquency and Arrest among Black, White, and Hispanic Males in the United States.” Criminology 49:1109-1147.
  • Shannon, S. K. S., & Abrams, L. S. (2007). Juvenile offenders as fathers: Perceptions of fatherhood, crime, and becoming an adult. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 88, 183-191.

Child Welfare

  • Elderbroom, Brian, Bennett, Laura, Gong, Shanna, Rose, Felicity, Towns, Zoë. 2018. Every Second: The Impact of the Incarceration Crisis on America’s Families. Washington, DC:
  • Phillips, S.D., Burns, B. J., Wagner, R. H., & Barth, R. P. (2004). Parent arrest and children involved with child welfare services agencies. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 74 (2), 174-186. 
  • Phillips, S. D., & Dettlaff, A. J. (2007). More than parents in prison: The broader overlap between the criminal justice and child welfare systems. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 3, 3-13.