OUR FIGHT AGAINST HUGNER & POVERTY

The rate of parental imprisonment in the United States is a growing cause for concern. Shockingly, one in every 12 American children has experienced the incarceration of a parent during their lifetime - that's over 5.7 million kids under the age of 18 (Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, 2016). Half of all parents in prison lived with their children prior to their arrest or imprisonment, with similar numbers serving as the primary source of financial support (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2015). 

Although there should be consequences for breaking the law, this phenomenon of mass parental incarceration is unique to the United States and perpetuates a complex problem.

The United States has seen a dramatic increase in incarceration rates. Since 1980, the number of incarcerated individuals has skyrocketed to over 2.2 million, with an additional 4.7 million under parole or probation supervision. Punitive policing and sentencing policies have had a disproportionately negative effect on communities of color, with African Americans being more likely to be arrested, convicted, and incarcerated than their white counterparts, despite comprising only 37% of the U.S. population (The Sentencing Project). Unfortunately, women have also been impacted, with a 716% increase in female incarceration since 1980.