Observational Measurement of Children’s Reactions to Visits With Parents Incarcerated in Jail or Prison

• In Event: 1-069 - Innovative Developmental, Family, Educational, and Sociological Approaches to Studying Children with Incarcerated Parents

Integrative Statement

Introduction: As the number of children affected by parental incarceration has risen, so too have issues regarding children’s visits with parents at corrections facilities. Although family visits are a key opportunity to maintain parent-child relationships and decrease recidivism, several studies have linked children’s visits (especially non-contact barrier visits) with child behavior problems and anxiety. However, studies focusing on child-friendly contact visits have found positive effects. The first aim of this presentation is to describe the development of a new observational measure to assess the quality of children’s visit experiences in corrections facilities. The second aim is to present data from three observational studies of children during parent-child visits in both prisons and jails to assist with recommendations for children’s visits.

Methods: The Jail-Prison Observation Checklist (JPOC) was developed by researchers observing parent-child visits in jails and prisons. It is rated in vivo by trained researchers in jail or prison starting from when a child enters the facility until the time the child leaves. Data assessing the reliability and validity of the JPOC were drawn from three studies. The first study included 28 children, age 2 to 6 years, who visited their fathers in jail via Plexiglas barrier, video visit, or face-to-face contact visit. The second study included 71 children, age 3 to 8 years, who visited their fathers in one of 4 jails in 2 states, with video or Plexiglas visitation. The third study included 42 children, age 7 to 14, who visited their mothers in prison as part of a child-friendly visitation program, which included face-to-face contact visits.

Results: Study 1 found that children’s behaviors and emotions during the jail visit were more negative during Plexiglas barrier visits than video or contact visits. In addition, children engaged in more positive behaviors when the child had a secure attachment to their caregiver, as measured with the Attachment Q-sort at home. Study 2 found that children who were told the simple, honest truth about the parent’s incarceration prior to children’s entry into the jail exhibited more positive affect and behaviors during the visit with incarcerated fathers. Study 3 documented children’s reactions to child-friendly visitation with imprisoned mothers, delineating components of child-friendly visits.

Conclusions: Visitation between children and their incarcerated parents is a complex issue, with benefits and drawbacks. Observational research focusing on children’s visits to corrections facilities can help scholars and professionals understand their experiences and needs, leading to interventions that can support children’s well-being when a parent is incarcerated. Child-friendly visits include providing a positive, safe, friendly environment, including ample opportunities for physical contact and engaging activities; training corrections staff how to interact with children and families; fostering communication among caregivers, children, incarcerated parents, and professionals; preparing children and incarcerated parents. It is also critical that parents and children have contact between visits, such as letter writing, drawings, cards, videos, email contact, or telephone calls. Children especially need adequate preparation, including talking to them simply and honestly about the parent being in jail or prison.

Authors

• Julie Anne Poehlmann-Tynan, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  Presenting Author

• Ashleigh Grendziak, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kerrie Ann Fanning, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  Non-Presenting Author

• Hilary Cuthrell, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kaitlyn Pritzl, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  Non-Presenting Author

• Amy Lavender, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jennifer Wirth, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  Non-Presenting Author

• Luke Muentner, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  Non-Presenting Author

• Zoe Milavetz, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  Non-Presenting Author

• Rebecca Nealy Shlafer, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
  Non-Presenting Author