Focus on the Family: Mass Incarceration and Gender Inequality

• In Event: The Financial Toll of Incarceration for Individuals, Families, and Communities

Abstract

Communities incur tremendous costs when their loved ones are incarcerated. Some are financial, such as court fees and visitation expenses, while others are less tangible, such as the time and emotional support required to care for an incarcerated loved one. These costs amplify social and economic exclusion and reinforce cycles of poverty and incarceration. They are also disproportionately borne by women of color. These costs are rarely measured, however understanding their scope is crucial for implementing public policy that adequately supports communities impacted by mass incarceration, including those who continue to care for their loved ones post release.

Building on prior research, our analysis examines the impact of male incarceration on the labor market outcomes of the mothers of their children, focusing on how these impacts differ depending on the racial identities of mothers and fathers. In particular, we examine the impacts of father's incarceration on household income and mother's employment outcomes using an instrumental variable approach as well as decomposition modeling. In doing so, we address open questions about the relationship between mass incarceration and the gender pay gap and the nature of spillover effects to families associated with parental imprisonment.

Authors

• Sarah Riley, Vera Institute of Justice

• Jessica Zhang, Vera Institute of Justice