Assessing mass incarceration’s effects on families

Abstract

In this Review, we assess how mass incarceration, a monumental American policy experiment, has affected families over the past five decades. We reach four conclusions. First, family member incarceration is now common for American families. Second, individuals who will eventually have a family member incarcerated are worse off than those who never will, even before the incarceration takes place. Third, family member incarceration has negative effects on families above and beyond these preexisting disadvantages. And finally, policy interventions that address the precursors to family member incarceration and seek to minimize family member incarceration would best enhance family well-being. If the goal is to help all American families thrive, then the importance of simultaneous changes in social and criminal justice policy cannot be overstated.

Vicarious exposure to the criminal legal system among parents and siblings

“…The overwhelming majority of research in this area focuses on patterns of family member incarceration, including parental incarceration. Studies find that Black and Latinx children are more likely than White children to have a parent incarcerated (Lee & Wildeman, 2021; Wildeman, 2009), and Black parents are more likely to experience the incarceration of their adult children than White parents (Goldman, 2019; Green et al, 2006; Lee & Wildeman, 2021). Research by Lee et al (2015) showed that Black women experienced especially high levels of familial incarceration, with 44% of Black women reporting having a family member in prison, compared with 12% of White women.…”

“…More recent data showed that nearly half of all Americans have experienced having a family member in prison, with the highest prevalence for African American and Hispanic individuals (Enns et al, 2019; Lee & Wildeman, 2021). Importantly, these recent studies show that having a sibling incarcerated was the most common form of family member incarceration (Enns et al, 2019; Lee & Wildeman, 2021).…”

“…A growing body of evidence shows that Black and Latinx individuals are more likely than Whites to experience the arrest, supervision, and incarceration of family members (Chung & Hepburn, 2018; Enns et al, 2019; Lee et al, 2015; Lee & Wildeman, 2021; Wildeman, 2009). The overwhelming majority of research in this area focuses on patterns of family member incarceration, including parental incarceration.…”

“…Research by Lee et al (2015) showed that Black women experienced especially high levels of familial incarceration, with 44% of Black women reporting having a family member in prison, compared with 12% of White women. More recent data showed that nearly half of all Americans have experienced having a family member in prison, with the highest prevalence for African American and Hispanic individuals (Enns et al, 2019; Lee & Wildeman, 2021). Importantly, these recent studies show that having a sibling incarcerated was the most common form of family member incarceration (Enns et al, 2019; Lee & Wildeman, 2021).…”

The COVID-19 pandemic behind bars: Experimental evidence showing higher support for decarceration when framed as risk to correctional staff

“…Importantly, incarceration in the US is also highly unequal across social groups with an especially concentrated risk of contact with the criminal legal system among Black Americans ( Alexander, 2010 ). Black Americans experience disproportionately high rates of incarceration ( Carson, 2020 ; Mauer & King, 2007 ) and have higher rates of incarceration in familial and social networks ( Enns et al, 2019 ; Lee & Wildeman, 2021 ; Wildeman, 2009 ). There is evidence that excessive incarceration in the Black community in the US is a result of structural racism and the lasting legacy of slavery ( Alexander, 2010 ).…”