In any given year, almost 200,000 children experience the incarceration and re-entry of their primary caregiver. Nationally, approximately 7% of children under the age of 18 have a parent that is incarcerated. This is roughly one in every 50 children. Children that have an incarcerated parent have:
- a higher risk of adverse childhood experiences
- insecure attachment
- social stigma
- unstable family relationships
- physical and mental health concerns
- low educational attainment
The ND DOCR is committed to increasing contact between incarcerated residents and their families. In 2018, the DOCR started the Children of Incarcerated Parents Initiative. This Initiative is comprised of team members from the ND DOCR, Health and Human Services, school systems and community partners to focus on ways to increase visitation and family activities within all ND DOCR facilities. The ND DOCR is also committed to focusing on enriching the contact between an incarcerated parent and their child(ren), reducing risk factors affected by parental incarceration and recidivism for the incarcerated parent.
Resources
Searching for a parent? Use our resident lookup.
National Institute of Corrections (NIC) Children of Incarcerated Parents
Children of Incarcerated Individuals & Books
Daddy's Time Out, by Jeremy Gregg
Videos:
Incarceration: Little Children, Big Challenges
Incarceration: Animation - Visiting Dad in Prison
Incarceration: Alex's Big Feelings
Incarceration: Alex Copes with a Family Member's Incarceration
Incarceration: What is Incarceration?
Incarceration: Murray Talks with Nylo
John Legend & Sesame Street Come Together for Kids with Incarcerated Parents
If you have questions about this initiative, please email the DOCR at docr@nd.gov.