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The420Guy
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Almost 1.5 million minor children (17 years old and younger), an estimated
2 percent of America's kids, had a mother or father in federal or state
prison in 1999, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
announced today.
That figure has grown in step with the swelling of the nation's prison
population, with an increase of more than 500,000 children since 1991.
A majority of the children with imprisoned parents (58 percent) were
younger than 10 years old - the average was eight years old.
According to the BJS report, imprisoned parents were overwhelmingly male
(93 percent), as is the general prison population, and predominately held
in state prisons, rather than federal facilities (89 percent compared to 11
percent).
The number of minor children with an imprisoned father
(1,372,700) rose 58 percent from 1991 through 1999, compared to a 98
percent increase during the same period in the number of minors with an
imprisoned mother (126,100).
Half of the parents in state prisons were black, about a quarter were white
and a fifth were Hispanic. In 1999 an estimated 767,200 black children,
384,500 white children and 301,600 Hispanic children had a parent in prison.
The percentage of black children in the U.S. resident population with an
imprisoned parent (7.0 percent) was
nearly nine times higher than that of white children (0.8 percent).
Hispanic children were three times as likely as white children to
have a parent in prison (2.6 percent).
State prisoners who were parents were less likely to be violent
offenders (44 percent) than inmates without children (51 percent), the
report said.
Three-quarters of state prisoners who were parents
had a prior conviction, and a majority (56 percent) had previously been
incarcerated.
On average, the imprisoned parents expected to serve more than
six-and-a-half years in state prison and eight-and-a-
half years in federal prison.
More than 80 percent of all parents in prison reported that their
minor children lived with the other parent, but these answers
differed sharply by gender.
About 90 percent of fathers in state prisons said at least one of their
minor children were now living with their mother, while 28 percent of
mothers in prison said their child's father was the current care giver.
Mothers most often said their children's grandparents were the care givers
(53 percent), compared to 13 percent of the fathers who said their children
were with grandparents.
Forty-six percent of all parents in state and federal prisons said they
were living with their children just prior to their admission to prison.
Among parents in state prisons, 44 percent of the fathers
lived with their children prior to their admission, compared to 64 percent
of the mothers.
As of December 31, 1999, an estimated 336,300 U.S. households with minor
children had a resident parent in prison.
Forty percent of the imprisoned fathers and 60 percent of the mothers
reported weekly contact with their children by phone, mail or visit.
However, a majority of both fathers (57 percent) and mothers (54 percent)
reported never having had a personal visit with their children since their
admission to state prison.
More than 60 percent of the parents in state prisons reported being held
more than 100 miles from their last place of residence.
The study also found that almost 60 percent of the parents in state prisons
reported having used drugs in the month before their offense, and 25
percent reported a history of alcohol dependence.
More than a third of the parents in state prisons committed their offense
while under the influence of alcohol.
About 14 percent reported a mental illness, and 70 percent did not have a
high school diploma.
At the time of their most recent arrest, 27 percent of the fathers and 50
percent of the mothers in state prisons were unemployed.
In the month prior to their arrest, 46 percent of the parents said they had
incomes of at least $1,000 a month, and 27 percent said their income
derived from illegal activities.
Mothers in state prisons were twice as likely as fathers
to say they had been homeless the year before their arrests, 18
percent compared to 8 percent.
About half of the parents in state prison were never married and a quarter
were currently married.
In the month before their arrest, 20 percent had been living with their
children in two-parent households, 18 percent were living with their
children as single parents and 62 percent lived apart from their children.
The data are based on personal interviews in state and federal
correctional facilities during which the inmates described various aspects
of their lives both before and during incarceration.
The special report, "Incarcerated Parents and Their Children" (NCJ-182335),
was written by BJS policy analyst Christopher J. Mumola.
2 percent of America's kids, had a mother or father in federal or state
prison in 1999, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
announced today.
That figure has grown in step with the swelling of the nation's prison
population, with an increase of more than 500,000 children since 1991.
A majority of the children with imprisoned parents (58 percent) were
younger than 10 years old - the average was eight years old.
According to the BJS report, imprisoned parents were overwhelmingly male
(93 percent), as is the general prison population, and predominately held
in state prisons, rather than federal facilities (89 percent compared to 11
percent).
The number of minor children with an imprisoned father
(1,372,700) rose 58 percent from 1991 through 1999, compared to a 98
percent increase during the same period in the number of minors with an
imprisoned mother (126,100).
Half of the parents in state prisons were black, about a quarter were white
and a fifth were Hispanic. In 1999 an estimated 767,200 black children,
384,500 white children and 301,600 Hispanic children had a parent in prison.
The percentage of black children in the U.S. resident population with an
imprisoned parent (7.0 percent) was
nearly nine times higher than that of white children (0.8 percent).
Hispanic children were three times as likely as white children to
have a parent in prison (2.6 percent).
State prisoners who were parents were less likely to be violent
offenders (44 percent) than inmates without children (51 percent), the
report said.
Three-quarters of state prisoners who were parents
had a prior conviction, and a majority (56 percent) had previously been
incarcerated.
On average, the imprisoned parents expected to serve more than
six-and-a-half years in state prison and eight-and-a-
half years in federal prison.
More than 80 percent of all parents in prison reported that their
minor children lived with the other parent, but these answers
differed sharply by gender.
About 90 percent of fathers in state prisons said at least one of their
minor children were now living with their mother, while 28 percent of
mothers in prison said their child's father was the current care giver.
Mothers most often said their children's grandparents were the care givers
(53 percent), compared to 13 percent of the fathers who said their children
were with grandparents.
Forty-six percent of all parents in state and federal prisons said they
were living with their children just prior to their admission to prison.
Among parents in state prisons, 44 percent of the fathers
lived with their children prior to their admission, compared to 64 percent
of the mothers.
As of December 31, 1999, an estimated 336,300 U.S. households with minor
children had a resident parent in prison.
Forty percent of the imprisoned fathers and 60 percent of the mothers
reported weekly contact with their children by phone, mail or visit.
However, a majority of both fathers (57 percent) and mothers (54 percent)
reported never having had a personal visit with their children since their
admission to state prison.
More than 60 percent of the parents in state prisons reported being held
more than 100 miles from their last place of residence.
The study also found that almost 60 percent of the parents in state prisons
reported having used drugs in the month before their offense, and 25
percent reported a history of alcohol dependence.
More than a third of the parents in state prisons committed their offense
while under the influence of alcohol.
About 14 percent reported a mental illness, and 70 percent did not have a
high school diploma.
At the time of their most recent arrest, 27 percent of the fathers and 50
percent of the mothers in state prisons were unemployed.
In the month prior to their arrest, 46 percent of the parents said they had
incomes of at least $1,000 a month, and 27 percent said their income
derived from illegal activities.
Mothers in state prisons were twice as likely as fathers
to say they had been homeless the year before their arrests, 18
percent compared to 8 percent.
About half of the parents in state prison were never married and a quarter
were currently married.
In the month before their arrest, 20 percent had been living with their
children in two-parent households, 18 percent were living with their
children as single parents and 62 percent lived apart from their children.
The data are based on personal interviews in state and federal
correctional facilities during which the inmates described various aspects
of their lives both before and during incarceration.
The special report, "Incarcerated Parents and Their Children" (NCJ-182335),
was written by BJS policy analyst Christopher J. Mumola.
