Few people talk about it, but the numbers tell the story.
Nearly
half of all Americans
have a loved one who has spent time in prison, with an estimated
five million children
having at least one parent incarcerated during their lifetime. In
Pennsylvania, about 62,000 people are currently in custody, and nearly
80,000 children in the Commonwealth have a parent who is incarcerated.
“We hear from more than 100 family members on a weekly basis,” says Kirstin
Cornnell, Family and Community Support Director for the
Pennsylvania Prison Society. According to Cornnell, “Family members often have questions or concerns
about loved ones in prison, and that’s where the Society comes in. Some want
to learn how their loved ones can access health care. Others call to report
allegations of abuse, neglect, or unsafe conditions such as lack of heat or
running water. The Society advocates for these families. They follow up and
physically check on loved ones by tapping into a network of more than 300
volunteers across the state.”
The Impact of Incarceration on Mental Health
Families can experience significant stress when a loved one is in prison.
The Society offers advice on everything from making ends meet in the absence
of a family member’s income to supporting children affected by a loved one’s
incarceration.
“A lot of the anxiety is dealing with the lack of control,” Cornnell says.
“The windows for when you can talk to or visit a loved one when they are
incarcerated are limited. You can’t talk to them when you want to. That’s a
big adjustment. The other piece is fear and worry for the loved one’s
safety. There’s a limited amount we can do about the conditions, but we can
give the family a safe space to talk.”
There is also a great need for additional family support. “We’re trying to
fill that space by launching support groups,” says Cornnell. “You can’t do
it alone. Due to the scale of mass incarceration, if you haven’t had a loved
one incarcerated, you likely know somebody who knows somebody who has been
involved in the system. Talking to people in a similar circumstance goes a
long way.”
To reduce the family’s anxiety, the Society staff explain the processes for
things like visitation and sending mail. They also teach family members how
to become advocates for their loved ones. In addition, they help family
members set up electronic accounts to arrange visitation, which is critical
for everyone’s mental health.
Family Visits are Important
“We try to encourage people to take advantage of visits as much as possible,
whether in person or on video,” Cornnell says. The more you can keep in
touch, the better. Research shows that people in prison who receive frequent
visitors are
less likely to return to prison. They are also more likely to have relationships they can rely on when they
are released.
And although some adults hesitate to bring children to a prison, research
shows that in-person visits are important for children affected by
incarceration. But children need to be
prepared for what to expect
during a visit.
“It’s important to remind loved ones that they’re still part of the family,”
Cornnell says. “Physical separation can’t break the bonds of love. We’re all
more than the worst thing we’ve done, and family is there for you.”
Resources for Families
If you have a loved one who is incarcerated, the following resources may be
helpful:
• Pennsylvania Prison Society
helpline (215-564-4775) or
[email protected]
• The National Resource Center on Children and Families of the
Incarcerated
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) family support groups
and Warmline (844-PHL-HOPE) to speak with a NAMI Philadelphia peer or family
member
For more information about mental health, self-care strategies, and where to
find help, visit
ibx.com/knowyourmind.
This content was originally published on
IBX Insights.