Washblog

The primary care givers of these children are basically single mothers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, or other family members that take these children to see their Dad. These are families who are struggling to put food on the table and clothes on the backs of these children, and fighting the statistics that say these children are five (5) to seven (7) times more likely to go to prison than children who do not have a parent who has been involved in the criminal justice system. (1)  It is estimated that up to half of all male children of incarcerated parents will go on to commit crimes themselves. (2)

Imaging waking up everyday knowing that you are having to fight that battle to keep your child from being on the losing side of that battle.  Contact with the parent who is in prison helps to lower these statistics; it also helps to lower the risk that these individuals will be released just to commit a new crime. Currently, from the statistics the Department of Corrections cites, there are around 18,000 men and women in prison in Washington state; 82 % of them have 1.92 children. If we continue to disrupt families imagine the implications for our future. The crime rate will be drastically increased, resulting in a bigger prison population, more taxpayer money spent, and more hurting families.

The original version of House Bill 2688, was a glimmer of hope for families that have to wonder every day when and if Dad will be transferred and for those of us that have already had Dad transferred that the Legislature was really hearing us and seeing that we are in need of their help.  The substitute bill that has been passed through the House Human Services Committee is continuing to give the power to the Department of Corrections, an entity that has proven over and over again that they will not think twice about tearing families apart and hurting our children.

As the Mother in a family that was separated by the transfers of men to out-of-state prisons I am outraged by the lack of concern for the children that are in need of guidance and love from their Dads. I have heard nothing but excuses since April for why it was necessary for my children's Dad to be sent to Arizona. What I haven't heard is that anyone is willing to pay for or take responsibility for the trauma this is causing my children. Their Dad is paying for his decisions. Why are we holding him accountable but not holding the DOC accountable for the decisions they are making?

1. Bilchik, S., Seymour, C., & Kreisher, K. (2001). Parents in Prison. Corrections Today,  63, 7, 108-112.  Cited in Children of Incarcerated Parents, Council on Crime and Justice, 1/2006
2. LEFT BEHIND: Tens of thousands of children have a parent behind bars. What are the social costs of their loss?, Nell Bernstein, Mother Jones, July 10, 2001