The Effect of Paternal Incarceration on Children and Caregivers’ Social Support Networks

• In Event: Developmental and Life Course Consequences of Parental Incarceration

Abstract

Paternal imprisonment is associated with a variety of severe and long-term harms to children, which are implicated in intergenerational trajectories of disadvantage and offending. Consequently, the identification of potential moderating or protective factors for this population could have far-reaching consequences for the prevention of crime and other societal harms. Despite widespread agreement that social support is likely to have a determining role in reducing delinquency and criminal behaviour more generally, little is known about the specific impacts of paternal incarceration on the social support networks of this especially vulnerable population. Using a mixed-methods approach incorporating qualitative interview data and survey data from 43 households experiencing paternal incarceration, this paper identifies the ways in which children’s and caregiver’s social networks are subsequently disrupted (e.g. through house moves and social stigma). Importantly, we also examine whether, and under which circumstances, families experienced improved social support. We discuss how social networks could be better facilitated to help promote positive, pro-social development in prisoners’ children, wellbeing of caregivers and, support the future desistance of the father upon re-entry.

Authors

• Kirsten Besemer, Griffith University

• Susan Dennison, Griffith University