Mass Incarceration and the Effects of it on Children

Children of the incarcerated are the most affected as they are exposed to various problems, most of which are out of their ability to control. African-American families are characterized by distinct cultural groups that exhibit a lot of diversity. Such diversity is crucial in dictating their lifestyles, as they dictate their socio-economic status, education, geographical origins among others. Kingship ties in this race, for instance, are essential as parents play a big role in shaping their kids’ character, making separation from others have a detrimental effect on the society. Evidence has it that African-Americans constitute a larger population of the United States jail facilities and this has had their children suffer the consequences of their incarcerated parents. Their performance in schools drastically declines, and they tend to lose focus. They have reduced physical activities and hardly participate in games and clubs and societies.

It is evident that these children often violate school rules forcing some of them to be sent home because of disciplinary cases. Chasing these children from school only serves to worsen their situation, and they engage in criminal activities as a way of revenging to the society (Wildeman 83). Children who parents have been imprisoned view life negatively, and they can participate in crime as they deem themselves as having nothing to lose. These children are exposed to a different environment and may not fully adapt. Besides, these people have other responsibilities to cater for and take minimum time to look into the matters that affect these children. As a result, children's concerns are not attended, and they may not be free to discuss their problems with their new ‘parents. ’ Upon incarceration of parents of African-American children, these children usually fall, victims of environmental mobility, as they search for a better means of survival.

They get to interact with various individuals who have criminal records and may inherit some vices along the way. Stigma among most of the PI children may make them conduct premature sexual behavior that increases their risks of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. According to Wildeman, explain that stress and stigma which children encounter after their parent's incarceration are the core reasons why most of the African-American children suffer from health complications, disrupted lifestyles, and engaging in criminal activities (92). Most of the incarcerated African-Americans return to their homes after serving their sentencing. These people hardly change their behavior and may impact negative attitudes and behavior to their children. These children may copy the lousy character and grow up involving in unwarranted criminal behavior which could lead to their eventual incarceration. This move will help cool down their bitterness and help them lead a proper life.

The penal system should be regulated to offer more tolerable punishments to the law offenders. Children of the African-Americans should be allowed to visit their parents frequently. Prisoners who are parents must be accorded necessary support in bringing up their children so that the black population does not die in prisons and jails (Unnever et al. The government should come up with more policies like the Coping project which offer help to children of parental incarceration. The amendment should focus on how children of the incarcerated can continue leading a life free of the stated problems that arise from the incarceration of their parents. The African-American population is crying foul over what it terms as the failure of the government to protect the future of their children through proper strategies and policies.

It is high time that the African-American kids be exempted from the unnecessary suffering because of their parents’ sins. Works Cited Aridity, Joyce A.  Parental incarceration and the family: Psychological and social effects of imprisonment on children, parents, and caregivers. Gabbidon.  A Theory of African American Offending: Race, racism, and crime. Taylor & Francis, 2011. Wehr, Kevin, and Elyshia Aseltine.  Beyond the prison industrial complex: Crime and incarceration in the 21st century.