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Maternal incarceration trajectories and the intergenerational transmission of imprisonment: A nationwide study

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  • Zhao, Qianwei
  • Cepeda, Alice
  • Chou, Chih-Ping
  • Valdez, Avelardo

Abstract

While children with maternal incarceration experiences have substantially higher rates of criminal justice involvement than children without maternal incarceration experiences, research on the association between maternal imprisonment and children’s criminal justice involvement reveals divergent findings. The inconsistencies are potentially attributable to the widespread use of a dichotomized maternal incarceration measure that masks different experiences across samples. This study used incarceration trajectories over the life course to determine the nature and array of maternal imprisonment histories associated with intergenerational incarceration. Using the Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities dataset (N = 881), we conducted logistic regression to examine the relationship between maternal incarceration trajectories and children’s risk of imprisonment. Findings suggested that children whose mothers followed the young-adulthood-peak trajectory had higher odds of being incarcerated than children whose mothers followed the moderate declining path. Moreover, the mother’s experiences of sexual abuse and juvenile justice involvement were significantly associated with intergenerational incarceration. This study suggests the need to use comprehensive longitudinal maternal incarceration measures to understand its consequences. Rehabilitative rather than punishment-oriented interventions for mothers may lower the odds od intergenerational incarceration. Prevention programs that target the unique challenges od mothers following the young-adulthood-peak trajectory may also interrupt intergenerational imprisonment. Moreover, criminal justice reform should consider systematic racism and socioeconomic inequalities to reduce the criminal justice involvement of children from disadvantaged communities in the US.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Qianwei & Cepeda, Alice & Chou, Chih-Ping & Valdez, Avelardo, 2020. "Maternal incarceration trajectories and the intergenerational transmission of imprisonment: A nationwide study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:118:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920308306
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105461
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Randi Hjalmarsson & Matthew J. Lindquist, 2012. "Like Godfather, Like Son: Exploring the Intergenerational Nature of Crime," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 47(2), pages 550-582.
    2. Christopher Wildeman, 2009. "Parental imprisonment, the prison boom, and the concentration of childhood disadvantage," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 46(2), pages 265-280, May.
    3. Christopher Wildeman & Kristin Turney, 2014. "Positive, Negative, or Null? The Effects of Maternal Incarceration on Children’s Behavioral Problems," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(3), pages 1041-1068, June.
    4. Woodard, Tracey & Copp, Jennifer E., 2016. "Maternal incarceration and children's delinquent involvement: The role of sibling relationships," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 340-348.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhao, Qianwei & Parrish, Danielle & He, Ning, 2023. "Maternal incarceration and adolescent girls’ risk of substance-exposed pregnancy, STIs, and HIV," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    2. Qianwei Zhao & Ning He & Flor Avellaneda & Danielle E. Parrish, 2023. "Examining the Association between Recent Maternal Incarceration and Adolescents’ Sleep Patterns, Dietary Behaviors, and Physical Activity Involvement," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, April.

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