Victoria Neal

Prof. Altez
ENG 123
24 Jan 2016
Literature Review
Bell Linda and Connie Cornwell talk about prisoners and their families in the article
Evaluation of a Family Wellness Course for Persons in Prison (2015, p. 45). This source goes
into further depth in research about keeping communication with a family member in prison.
When the parent and child stay connected even though the parent is in jail it is helpful for both
the parent and the child. It helps with their confidence and self esteem. the second article is
different because it talks about attachment. In the second article it discusses how children need to
have an attachment or they will be put at risk of social delays or disorders (Jude, 2010, p. 333).
The article also talks about a program that was provided to women who were pregnant while in
prison. They gave these women parenting classes and allowed them to care for their babies for up
to six months. fourteen out of twenty babies had a secure attachment when the study was
finishing. The articles are both similar because they both talk about parents who are incarcerated.
They also give ways to help the parents and child while in prison.
According to Marie Gottschalk when the government puts more money into the jail
system it gets spent and when new prisons are made they get filled (2009, p. 97). By adding
more money into the prison funds the government is taking away from things that prevent people
from ending up in prison. The Legislative Analysts Office is different from the previous article
because it shows the costs to incarcerate an inmate (2008). Both of the articles are similar
because they are both talking about finances and incarceration. The first article of the paragraph

is passionate about defunding prisons and releasing prisoners who are non violent. The other
article strictly discusses the cost of incarceration with no opinion or judgment on the matter. The
article is pure fact while the first article has some opinions from the author.
Caroline and Morgan wrote about support services for children with close relatives or
parents in prison. This article describes how a child having a primary caregiver in jail can affect
the child and the caregiver negatively. It also discusses how children with a parent or parents in
prison are proven to have more educational difficulties (2014, p. 849). Caroline and Morgan the
same authors of the previous article wrote another article about how schools can support children
with parents in prison. In this article it discusses how there should be awareness for children
living with a parent in prison. Children need to have time to see their parent in prison. Schools
need to be flexible so children are able to see their parent (2013, p. 199-202). These two articles
were written by the same authors but have differences to them. Although they both discuss
children with a parent or both parents in prison. One article focuses on the effect of having a
parent or both parents in prison while the other focuses on how the school can help these
children. Reading these articles together was extremely beneficial because the articles could be a
continuation of each other.
The Osborne Association has a website that shows many statistics on children with
parents in prison. This article is the only one to discuss how each children is different so each
situation should be handled differently. Should a child see their parent in prison? The answer
depends on the child, the parent, the relationship they had and the childs development level.
There are many factors for children with incarcerated parents. Research done by Oconnor shows
that attachment is still important in the infant and toddler years (2011, p. 450). Infant and toddler
years are from two years to about four years of age. The article talks a lot about attachment and

how children with an insufficient attachment knew less words and were more likely to be
disruptive. Both of these articles discuss children with parents in incarceration; however, one
talks about each childs situation being different while the other talks about the effects of a child
not receiving a good attachment.
In a special report done by the Bureau of Justice it shows statistics parents in prison with
minor children. Most mothers who are in prison are there for illegal use of drugs. They are
typically non violent mothers and receive help while in prison. According to this article two
percent of the U.S. population under eighteen are children with an incarcerated parent (2008).
Zagar, Grove, and Busch talk about incarceration in teenagers and young people. They state that
if there was more attention and funding children would be less likely to end up in jail. The
suggest anti-bullying campaigns and classes informing teenagers about drug abuse and its
negative effects (2013, p. 381). These do not relate to each other beside they both talk about
incarceration. They both are related to the subject of children and incarceration. Incarceration
could be prevented in teenagers if people put more time and effort into teaching these teenagers.
The Bureau of Justice gave an in detail report showing exact numbers of how many children
have incarcerated parents, how many are mothers, how many fathers and many other questions.
All of these sources relate in one way; they all talk about incarceration. Some sources
seem less important to this topic of children in incarceration. An example would be how much
does it cost to incarcerate an inmate annually? Although this does not seem relevant it is. On
average The United States of America spends forty seven thousand dollars a year on each inmate.
If that money was put into school and education instead of containment less children would end
up in prison. Gottschalks article fits in well with this idea of less money should be spent on
prisons and more should be spent on schools systems. One article that fits in well is the article by

the Osborne Association. It says how each child is different and each child needs special
attention. One child may be able to see their father in jail while another child may not. It is
depending on the childs experience, personality and development. If more opportunities were
provided to children during the troubled-years many children would become outstanding
students and citizens.

References
Bell, Linda G., and Connie S. Cornwell. "Evaluation Of A Family Wellness Course For
Persons In Prison." Journal Of Correctional Education 66.1 (2015): 45-57. Academic
Search Premier. Web. 16 Jan. 2016.
Cassidy, Jude, et al. "Enhancing Attachment Security In The Infants Of Women In A

Jail-Diversion Program." Attachment & Human Development 12.4 (2010): 333-353.

Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Jan. 2016.
Gottschalk, Marie. "Money And Mass Incarceration: The Bad, The Mad, And Penal
Reform." Criminology & Public Policy 8.1 (2009): 97-109. Academic Search Premier.
Web. 16 Jan. 2016.
"How Much Does It Cost to Incarcerate an Inmate?" LAO. Legislative Analyst's Office,
2008. Web. 8 Jan. 2016. <http://www.lao.ca.gov/PolicyAreas/CJ/6_cj_inmatecost>.
Leeson, Caroline, and Julia Morgan. "Strategic Planning For Support Services For
Children With A Parent Or Close Relative In Prison." Social Policy & Administration
48.7 (2014): 848-863. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.
Morgan, Julia, Caroline Leeson, and Rebecca Carter Dillon. "How Can Schools Support
Children With A Parent In Prison?."Pastoral Care In Education 31.3 (2013): 199-210.
Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.
"New York Initiative for Children of Incarcerated Parents." Obsborneny.org. Osborne
Association. Web. 18 Jan. 2016.
<http://www.osborneny.org/images/uploads/printMedia/Initiative CIP Stats_Fact
Sheet.pdf>.
O'connor, Erin, et al. "Risks And Outcomes Associated With Disorganized/Controlling
Patterns Of Attachment At Age Three Years In The National Institute Of Child Health &
Human Development Study Of Early Child Care And Youth Development." Infant
Mental Health Journal 32.4 (2011): 450-472. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 Jan.
2016.
"Parents in Prison and Their Minor Children." Special Report. Bureau of Justice

Statistics, 1 Aug. 2008. Web. 18 Jan. 2016.

Zagar, Robert John, William M. Grove, and Kenneth G. Busch. "Delinquency Best
Treatments: How To Divert Youths From Violence While Saving Lives And Detention
Costs." Behavioral Sciences & The Law 31.3 (2013): 381-396. Academic Search Premier.
Web. 18 Jan. 2016.