Effects of Parental Incarceration on Young Children - Essay Example

Effects of Parental Incarceration on Young Children Executive Summary Most mothers who are sentenced to serve prison sentences are always faced with the harsh reality of being separated from their children. It is baffling because prisons are meant for individuals who have committed wrong to the society, yet to most mothers; it is more than just a sentence when they are separated from their children. They loose touch with their children as they are not able to monitor the whereabouts or the activities of their children. This is an issue of concern as it affects the larger society because when children lack parental advice and upbringing, the society always bears the harsh reality of their mistakes in life. The question on whether Florida should or should not permit young children overnight visits or reside at correctional facilities with their mothers should be considered to help especially in changing lives of the young children. Because a child is brought up in a family, the impact of incarceration on a child should therefore be given utmost consideration so as to maintain the family relationship and bond existing between a child and a parent. Good child development should be considered in the event of an incarceration of the mother because as the bond which had existed between the mother and the child plays a pivotal role in the development and growth of the new born. Most separations of mothers from their children have a tendency of affecting most children negatively because of the maternal bond between the mother and the child. Introduction Imprisonment is a process which occurs over a period of time and normally affects the lives of those serving these sentences and those who are related in one way or the other to them. Children are young individuals who in most cases are mostly affected by the imprisonment of a parent or relative. They learn new things and behavior from parents and when relatives are not there to guide them, they always make wrong decisions and mistakes in life. This paper examines the question on whether should Florida should permit young children to have overnight visits or reside at correctional facilities with their mothers. Review of Research and Policies Various research and policies have been implemented in the past to help solve the situation and come up with solutions to mothers’ sentences in prison. Experts in the field have introduced educational programs which educates mothers who are serving prison sentences on the benefits of staying with the children and giving them a descent upbringing. These programs have also been directed towards children to enable them cope with the present condition of their mothers’ imprisonment and lead a good life free from crime and drugs. Programs like “Systematic Training for Effective Parenting Program” has been introduced to help mothers monitor their child’s development and behavior while sentences at different institutions in different states around the country (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2005). The program enhanced mothers serving prison sentences with the knowledge needed to guide their children a s they grow up and develop into being adults in the society. The educational interventions has worked on majority of mothers serving prison sentences because their children have turn out to be responsible individuals in the society. In addition, the programs have improved the relationship between mothers and their children as it unites and makes them understand each others situations by explaining to both the mother and child why the separation was necessary (Ward & Hisley, 2011). Visitation programs have also been to mothers serving prison sentences to have an opportunity with their children. The programs have worked on improving the mother child relationship hence allowing them to monitor the growth and development of the children and provide them with an opportunity to show their love and care to their children. Mothers have been encouraged despite the prison life situation as they are contented when they see their children grow into responsible adults by the help of the visitation programs put in place by the authorities and state concerned with manning and directing the institution (Fox, 2000). The visitation programs have also been structured in away that allows for the mother child to have a private time with each other. These have included unusual areas set aside for mothers to play with their children and safe environments where children are guaranteed of their security. The program has also positively influenced the lives of children whose mothers are serving prison sentences because they have adequate time to spend with their parents and discuss issues which affects them on a daily basis hence they develop a positive attitude about life as they grow. In addition, the program has worked to address issues of parental insecurities which were being experienced by mothers serving sentences for a period of time. Their worries are reduced because they are provided with an opportunity to socialize and advice their children, therefore acting as a source of solace to them (Rosenau & Hughes, 2009). Programs which allow mothers to partially raise their children while serving their sentences in prison have also been introduced in many institutions to cater for the need of mothers and children. Prison nurseries introduced in many institutions have allowed mothers to give birth and take care of their children while serving their sentences. Mothers have been able to take care of children for close to a year thus have been able to breastfeed their newborns and give them needed care that is important to newborns. This has pleased many mothers because they feel that they have contributed towards their child growth by being physically there to take care of them. Moreover, Prison nurseries have also offered mothers who give birth while serving sentences with the needed programs which enable them to adequately care for the young ones. However, the program is not opened to all mothers serving sentences as those whose sentences are almost over are the ones allowed to participate in it (Nurse, 2002). Recommendations I recommend that the policy needs which addresses the issue on whether children should be allowed an overnight visits or be allowed to reside with their mothers at correctional facilities to be reviewed to be harmonized. This will work to avoid the gaps which may exist in the type of services offered at the prison. Good policies should be put forward to address needs which are not addressed by the existing policies to allow mothers and children have a deeper understating of one another. The new polices should focus in maintaining the existing services and ensure that shortages are kept at bay. This is because a prison program which works on seasonal basis can not have much effect on the needed mother child relationship. The program should be permanent such that both a mother and child should know the dates of their regular meeting to assist prepare in advance the issues they want to discuss for the day (Levinthal, 2012). I recommend that the newly formed policies should take into consideration the decisions and services of mothers who are serving prison sentences. This helps in bringing meaning to the programs introduced as their decisions towards their children are followed up. An example is that a mother who finds she serving a prison sentence against her wish might be responsible and might want to have a say in her child’s welfare. Following their decisions helps in mentoring children because the state recognizes it thus helps in nurturing the child according to the mothers wish, therefore removing mistakes which might be committed by the child due to barriers existing between the mother and the child (Fox, 2000). I recommend for policies that allows for schools to partners with mothers who are imprisoned to help in nurturing children into adulthood. When the school coordinates with the mother about their children’s progress, the child gets the needed support from key players, therefore resulting to a good understanding between the mother, child and schools. Moreover, teachers might use the opportunity to notify the mother on key changes happening on their children’s lives and find lasting solutions on how to tackle the problem or issues being experienced by the child. These mothers are also encouraged by the school as the school takes keen concentration on the child and issue counseling sessions to them to help them cope and understand their mother’s situation thus barring them from developing hate towards their mothers (London, 2011). I also recommend that alternative sentencing should be introduced to mothers who have children and are sentenced to serve prison sentences which keep them away from their children. An example is that community sentencing can be introduced to mothers. This will allow them to serve their sentences while close to their children to enable them to monitor and guide their families. This will work towards preserving most families where the mother is arrested. The presence of the mother will have a positive impact to children as it will reduce recidivism in children as they will be allowed to back at homes during the nights. Lastly, I recommend for policies which acts on how the public acts and responds to children whose mothers are serving prison sentences. This is because most children whose mothers are locked up prison always suffer mentally as they are mocked by their fellow children at schools and even adults in their neighborhoods. The end result is that children develop a denial attitude making them believe that they are outcast in the society. This negatively affects them in different areas like in the education and social life. They are stigmatized by the comments they receive and always try their best to find companies which would understand them and their situations. In most cases, they end up in gangs or resort to abusing drugs as those are the only readily available remedies to help them forget their situation (London, 2011). Conclusion In conclusion, mothers have a great impact on the development and the upbringing of a child’s life. Many children who witnesses their parents locked in prison are always sensitive and the best thing that can happen in their life is to allow them time to spend with the parents. This works in improving their attitudes and relationship with their parents hence barring them from engaging in activities which are detrimental. When children are allowed to regularly pay their mothers visits in prison institution, they are positively influenced in life as they grow to be more confident in themselves and abilities. This enables them to make right choices in life and also stay away from bad companies which may put them into trouble with authorities or society. This allows various stakeholders concerned to bar the period of where families break or child is abused as both parties are advised to come to term with the new changes which are brought when a mother or father is arrested to serve a sentence in prison. Finding solutions to the problem is step in controlling measures of the child’s development and growth in different environments and circumstances. In addition, numerous events which would have occurred when the mother is serving her sentence is reduced since the mother who is a symbol of care give is there to offer advice to the child. References Schmalleger, F., & Smykla, J. O. (2005). Corrections in the 21st century. Boston: McGraw-Hill. London, M. L. (2011). Maternal & child nursing care (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education. Rosenau, P. V., & Hughes, C. (2009). Special issue on health policy and healthy populations. Hoboken, N.J.: Published for the Southwestern Social Science Association by Wiley- Blackwell. London, M. L. (2011). Maternal & child nursing care (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education. Levinthal, C. F. (2012). Drugs, behavior, and modern society (7th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Fox, G. L. (2000). Families, crime and criminal justice. Amsterdam: JAI. Nurse, A. (2002). Fatherhood arrested parenting from within the juvenile justice system. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press. Ward, S. L., & Hisley, S. M. (2011). Maternal-child nursing care: Optimizing outcomes for mothers, children, and families. Philadelphia: F A Davis. Read More