INCARCERATED FATHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN
The majority of incarcerated men are fathers. The
majority are nonviolent offenders who will return
to society within a few years.
Strong family connections and employment are the
two most critical elements that reduce the likelihood that fathers will return to prison once released.

What Policymakers Can Do
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These men possess low levels of literacy and lack
marketable job skills, making it difficult for them
to maintain employment once released.
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Former inmates need services that support their return to communities in order to prevent recidivism
and keep communities safe.
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In most states, when a father becomes incarcerated
his child support obligation continues at the same
level, despite his inability to pay. This leads to massive debt in many cases. Fathers feel discouraged
about their ability to pay support once released if
they have no realistic hope for repayment.

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Fathers are often unaware that they can ask for their
child support order to be modified downward if
their circumstances change, including if they are
incarcerated.
Families of incarcerated parents have special needs
and issues that need support. They have higher rates
of poverty, hunger, homelessness, abuse and violence.
Visiting spaces in prisons tend to lack child-friendly
space that helps facilitate a child-centered visit between dad and child.

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Use prison programs to assist inmates with developing relationship, communication, conflict
resolution and anger management skills that will
help to manage relationships with families and
their children.
Use literacy programs, basic education and
GED curriculums to help fathers write letters
to children and families, make tape recordings
of children’s books or other activities that help
fathers make a connection to their families prior
to their release.
Develop pre- and post-release support programs
that assist men to obtain job skills and job referrals prior to their release; supplement these
programs with support groups to help men keep
jobs.
Facilitate the development of mentorship programs with former inmates who have successfully kept a job and stayed out of jail. These
mentors serve as peer support networks for
newly released fathers.

What Policymakers Need to Know and
What They Can Do

What Policymakers Need to Know

Establish procedures that notify incarcerated
fathers of their right to a modification.
Explain the modification process and procedure
so that inmates or former inmates are aware of
how to exercise their right to request a modification.
Apply an automatic modification for incarcerated fathers.
Cease the accumulation of interest while fathers
are incarcerated.

Offer training to social workers, teachers, community services groups, prison wardens and lawyers on the special issues facing these families.
Encourage prison facilities to make information available to inmates and families on community resources and services.
Develop policies that support educational and
recreational activities and counseling for prisoners’ children.

Connecting Low-Income Families and Fathers: A Guide to Practical Policies, National Conference of State Legislatures © 2000

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INCARCERATED FATHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN
(CONTINUED)

Questions to Anticipate

Q: Dads should be responsible for their kids. Why shouldn’t dads continue to pay child support while
they are in prison?
A: Dads in prison have a small income that only allows them to pay for personal items like soap, shampoo
and shaving cream. Collecting support from fathers in prison may be an unrealistic expectation.
Additionally, arrearages that have accumulated during incarceration reduce the likelihood that fathers
will satisfy this debt once they are released. Employment prospects for men with a criminal record are
difficult and coupled with the mounting pressures of child support debt may discourage fathers from
succeeding in the work force.
Q: Fathers who are in prison were not thinking about the effects on their children when they committed their crime. Why should we now care to provide programs or services that will help fathers
reconnect with their children?
A: Research reveals that a father’s involvement in his child’s life greatly improves the child’s chances for
success. Helping incarcerated fathers foster stronger connections with their children (where appropriate) can have positive effects for children. Strong family connections can help to ensure that fathers stay
out of jail once they are released.
Q: Is it beneficial or harmful for a child to have a relationship with their father who is in prison?
A: Not all children who have a dad in prison should have contact with him. But there are many children
who had a relationship with their father prior to imprisonment who would benefit from continued
contact. Positive family relationships help both father and child cope with incarceration. In some
situations, prison is the first opportunity men have to conduct a self-evaluation and learn what it means
to be a responsible adult. These men are eager to rebuild relationships.
Q: How can incarcerated fathers stay involved in their children’s lives while they are in prison?
A: In some cases father involvement may occur through phone calls, letter writing or recording themselves
reading books or stories on cassette tapes that can be sent to the children. Facilitating transportation to
and from prison facilities can help ensure that families who wish to visit are given the opportunity.
Equipping visitation rooms with child-friendly activities—toys, games or books—can provide fathers
an opportunity to interact with their child.
Q: Does it really benefit incarcerated fathers to stay involved in their children’s lives while they are in
prison?
A: Studies show that prisoners who maintain family ties have significantly greater success once released.
Lack of contact between prisoners and children has been shown to jeopardize the chances of families
reuniting after inmates are released.

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Connecting Low-Income Fathers and Families: A Guide to Practical Policies, National Conference of State Legislatures © 2000