1 in every 10 US child has a parent in jail

[donsu]

http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/news/index.php?item=2083&cat=24&tr=y&auid=2163085


Austin: Parent's imprisonment tough on kids

An estimated 1 in 10 children nationwide has a parent in the criminal justice system. In Chicago, schools have no way to identify such children—and few resources to support them.


-snip-

Seven million children, or one in 10 nationwide, have a parent behind bars, on probation or on parole, according to a 2005 report by San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership, an advocacy group for children whose parents are in prison.

Last year, the organization issued a bill of rights for children whose parents are arrested or imprisoned that asserts, among other things, their right to specially trained counselors and other mentors.

-snip-

Having a parent locked up in prison can be devastating for a child, particularly if it’s the mother, who most often is the primary caretaker, says task force member Gail Smith, executive director of Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers.

Typically, women have shorter sentences, “but it can have a huge impact on their child.” Smith says. “It’s hard to concentrate in school. Most children grieve by getting angry. A teacher may read that as something else.”
-snip-
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for decades I've been saying that americans don't like children

we talk a good game but our actions tell the truth

the amount of people we have in jail is obscene

we cannot call ourselves civilized. a civilized country is not the arms dealer of the world. a civilized country doesn't invade and occupy an innocent country. a civilized country doesn't send undercover agents to other countries to upset their govts. a civilized country doesn't have the death penalty. a civilized country doesn't force women to have unwanted pregnancys . . . I could go on, add your own.

a country that treats it's children unkindly is a failed country.

[joemurphy]

1. Sickening. n/t

[TwilightZone]

2. "On probation or on parole" does not equal "in jail"

The seven million quoted is the total of those in jail, on probation, and on parole. There's definitely a big difference between probation and jail!

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. It still has a negative effect on their kids

which is the point of the story.

[uppityperson]

4. It does, just means the subject line of message is wrong.

but hey, it gets people to look and read it and think.

[TwilightZone]

8. Oh, I agree. In fact, I'm surprised they're not worse.

My point was that probation and jail aren't the same thing. Your subject line claims something that is simply not representative of the situation.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. It's not my subject line

But look at it this way - even the parents on probation are stuck in the legal system. There's a good chance their kids have seen them in handcuffs. Most of these parents have probably been in jail at some point in the past.

I am relieved that my children never had to go through seeing their father or me arrested or in trouble with the law and I feel very sorry for kids who are in that situation. I have taught quite a few of them and they really do suffer, even if the parent is not still incarcerated.

So we can bicker over numbers if we want. Or we can actually try to understand, reach and even help kids who have parents with a history of incarceration.

Yes it is important to get our numbers correct. We do need to present a credible picture. But I honestly don't see how anyone is cruel or dumb enough to argue against what is best for these kids.

[madmusic]

5. OK, 1 in 6 in PRISON

Per the article I posted yesterday. Is that better? Yes, 1 in 6 is better than 1 in 10.

[acmejack]

10. That's right, we only have two million in prison.

A mere two million, the largest percentage of pour population of any Country. Land of the free!

edit: 1 in 142 US residents now in prison. "Of the 1,200,203 state prisoners, 3,055 were younger than 18 years old. In addition, adult jails held 7,248 inmates under 18."

http://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/censusstatistic/a/aaprisonpop.htm

[justice1]

6. Drugs are a big reason for the problem.

It irritates me that poor people involved in drugs, risk losing their children, go to jail, and have a criminal record to carry around for the rest of their lives. Rich people that abuse drugs get rehab or are elected President.

[Jed Dilligan]

11. That's about the size of it...

No, wait, that's EXACTLY the size of it.

[njtechguy]

7. sad

Just like we have war profiteering, we have criminal profiteering in the county. This is turning into a serious problem. While of course there are many who deserve their punishment, too many are being held with bogus charges to ensure money is being made by the corporations who either own or have large stakes in our jails. I have spoken to some in the law enforcement industry who have told me of times where they have been told the jails are too empty and to start picking people up. In order for a county jail to make money they need to have a certain percentage of cells filled. Therefore the state gives them money, as well as the federal government.

Many are then held until no charges are filed and they are released.

[madmusic]

12. K&R