Much of what we know about this issue comes from a series of reports by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) on incarcerated parents and their children, that in turn, are based upon periodic national surveys of inmates in state and federal prisons. The latest such report was released in August 2008.2 It found that, in 2007, slightly more than 1.7 million children under age 18 had a parent in state or federal prison, representing 2.3 percent of the total U.S. child population. The number of children with a father in prison increased from 881,500 in 1991 to more than 1.5 million in 2007, a 77 percent increase. During that time, the number of children with a mother in prison increased by 131 percent, from 63,900 to 147,400.
In 2007, 744,200 male prison inmates had minor children, compared to 65,500 women inmates. Most prisoners had at least one child under age 18 (52 percent of state inmates and 63 percent of federal inmates). Sixty-two percent of women in state prison and 56 percent of female inmates in federal prison were parents of minor children, compared to 51 percent of male state prisoners and 63 percent of male federal inmates.
In 2007, the population of minor children of incarcerated parents consisted of approximately 484,100 white, non-Hispanic children (one in 110 white children), 767,400 black, non-Hispanic children (one in 15 black children), and 362,800 Hispanic children (one in 41 Hispanic children). Black (54 percent) and Hispanic (57 percent) men in state prison were more likely than white men (45 percent) to be parents. The likelihood that women in state prison were parents did not vary by race.
About half of these children were age 9 or younger. Thirty-two percent were between the ages of 10 and 14, and 16 percent were between the ages of 15 and 17.
What do we know about these children’s race and age?
In 2007, the population of minor children of incarcerated parents consisted of approximately 484,100 white, non-Hispanic children (one in 110 white children), 767,400 black, non-Hispanic children (one in 15 black children), and 362,800 Hispanic children (one in 41 Hispanic children). Black (54 percent) and Hispanic (57 percent) men in state prison were more likely than white men (45 percent) to be parents. The likelihood that women in state prison were parents did not vary by race.
About half of these children were age 9 or younger. Thirty-two percent were between the ages of 10 and 14, and 16 percent were between the ages of 15 and 17.
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