The Burden of Incarceration: 1 in 28 Kids Have a Parent Behind Bars

Photo: Caitlin Regan

Heartbreaking facts:

2.7 million children have a parent behind bars-1 in every 28 children (3.6 percent) has a parent incarcerated, up from 1 in 125 just 25 years ago. Two-thirds of these children’s parents were incarcerated for non-violent offenses.

That’s from a new Pew Report written by superstar sociologists?Bruce Western and?Becky Pettit.? These are the go-to folks for anyone trying to understand the current?mass incarceration.? The full report is?here and it’s summarized?here.
Why isn’t this the family values issue that we are all talking about?? I won’t pretend to know what we should do, but public indifference to the plight of these innocents can’t be right.