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Mass Incarceration, Family Complexity, and the Reproduction of Childhood Disadvantage

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  • Bryan L. Sykes
  • Becky Pettit

Abstract

In this article we examine the link between family complexity—measured by noncustodial parenthood and multiple-partner fertility—and incarceration. In 2012, close to 2.6 million children, or roughly one in twenty-five minors, had a parent in jail or prison. The risk of having a parent currently or ever incarcerated is disproportionately concentrated among black children and children of high school dropouts, many of whom are noncustodial parents. Variation in question wording, differences in length of exposure to parental incarceration, and the measurement of residential parenthood in household-based sample surveys converge to produce different estimates of race and class inequality in having a parent currently or ever incarcerated, when compared to similar estimates of parental incarceration from inmate surveys. Drawing on data from multiple sources and the development of a new method for the estimation of multiple-partner fertility among inmates, we consider how race and class inequality in parental incarceration may contribute to family complexity and the reproduction of childhood disadvantage.

Suggested Citation

  • Bryan L. Sykes & Becky Pettit, 2014. "Mass Incarceration, Family Complexity, and the Reproduction of Childhood Disadvantage," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 654(1), pages 127-149, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:654:y:2014:i:1:p:127-149
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716214526345
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Devah Pager, 2003. "The mark of a criminal record," Natural Field Experiments 00319, The Field Experiments Website.
    2. Amanda Geller & Irwin Garfinkel & Bruce Western, 2011. "Paternal Incarceration and Support for Children in Fragile Families," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 48(1), pages 25-47, February.
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    5. 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.
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    7. Wendy D. Manning & Susan L. Brown & J. Bart Stykes, 2014. "Family Complexity among Children in the United States," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 654(1), pages 48-65, July.
    8. Robynn Cox & Sally Wallace, 2013. "The Impact of Incarceration on Food Insecurity among Households with Children," Working Papers 1448, Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Research on Child Wellbeing..
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    Cited by:

    1. Crouch, Elizabeth & Smith, Hayden P. & Andersen, Tia Stevens, 2022. "An examination of caregiver incarceration, positive childhood experiences, and school success," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    2. Anna R. Haskins, 2017. "Paternal Incarceration and Children’s Schooling Contexts: Intersecting Inequalities of Educational Opportunity," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 674(1), pages 134-162, November.
    3. Alicia Herreros-Fraile & Rodrigo J. Carcedo & Antonio Viedma & Victoria Ramos-Barbero & Noelia Fernández-Rouco & Pilar Gomiz-Pascual & Consuelo del Val, 2023. "Parental Incarceration, Development, and Well-Being: A Developmental Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-44, February.
    4. Luck, Anneliese N., 2023. "Variation in cumulative childhood risks of parental imprisonment and foster care removal by state and race/ethnicity," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    5. Dylan B. Jackson & Alexander Testa & Daniel C. Semenza & Michael G. Vaughn, 2021. "Parental Incarceration, Child Adversity, and Child Health: A Strategic Comparison Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Jackson, Dylan B. & Testa, Alexander & Turney, Kristin, 2022. "Unpacking the connection between parental incarceration and parenting stress: The mediating role of child health and health care strains," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

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