Congresswoman Johnson Hosts Briefing on the Impact of Parental Incarceration on Children
Patricia Allard, Senior Policy Researcher and Analyst with Justice Strategies addresses those attending the briefing
Washington, DC – (Wednesday, September 3, 2014) – Today, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson hosted a briefing about prioritizing the needs of children of incarcerated parents. The briefing was sponsored by Justice Strategies, a New York-based nonprofit research organization dedicated to bringing humane and cost-effective approaches to criminal justice reform.
A recent study indicated that more than 2.7 million children in the United States currently have an incarcerated parent. “Unfortunately,” said Congresswoman Johnson, “children of a parent who is incarcerated are more likely to experience mental health problems and generally negative health outcomes. We must work together to ensure that children of incarcerated individuals are well cared-for and in stable situations, not left behind. The criminal justice system must be given the discretion to take family information into account in order to exercise sound and fair judgment.”
Patricia Allard, Senior Policy Researcher and Analyst with Justice Strategies noted in her remarks that promoting alternatives to incarceration is the best way to avoid negative impacts on children. “There is an opportunity for improvement in the criminal justice system,” said Allard. “A federal sentencing judge must be able to consider all of the facts of the case by examining a Family Responsibility Statement in order to determine sentencing.” Allard and Justice Strategies have pushed internationally for Family Responsibility Statements to be heard. Australia is already considering the impact of parental incarceration on children and judges are allowed discretion when sentencing a parent.
The briefing was moderated by Nkechi Taifa of the Open Society Foundations. Panelists included Patricia Allard of Justice Strategies, Glenn Martin of JustLeadership USA, Pamela Clifton of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, Charles Dalton Telschow, a slam poet, actor, and musical performer, and Elizabeth Gaynes of The Osborne Association.
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