Exploring Parent–Child Visitation Among Incarcerated People with Disabilities

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Abstract

Maintaining family connections during incarceration is associated with a range of positive outcomes for incarcerated individuals, children, and families. However, relatively little research has examined how disability status may shape access to and experiences of parent–child visitation in prison settings. This exploratory study investigates patterns of parent–child visitation among incarcerated parents with disabilities using data from the Survey of Prison Inmates (SPI) administered by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Drawing on the nationally representative SPI data, this project will examine whether incarcerated individuals with disabilities differ from those without disabilities in the frequency and type of contact with their children, as well as potential institutional and demographic correlates associated with visitation access. The study is exploratory in nature and aims to identify preliminary patterns that may inform future research on disability, incarceration, and family relationships. This presentation contributes to emerging scholarship on disability within correctional settings by centering the experiences of incarcerated parents and highlighting potential inequities in maintaining family connections during incarceration. Findings may have implications for correctional policy, visitation practices, and broader discussions of accessibility and family preservation in the criminal legal system.

Author

• Gabriel Alvarez, University of California, Irvine