This Brief explores the potential effects of parent-child contact during
incarceration on child and adult relationships, well-being, and
parenting as well as corrections-related issues, such as institutional
behavior and recidivism. It presents a literature review on what is
currently known about parent-child contact during parental incarceration
in addition to several empirical studies, followed by a summary,
commentary, and briefing report. The empirical studies focus on contact
in both jail and prison settings. Because jails in the United States
handle more admissions per year than prisons - and studies of jailed
parents and their children are not common in the literature - two of the
three studies presented focus on jails. Following the empirical studies,
a summary that includes recommendations for policy and intervention is
presented, along with a commentary that explores what researchers need
to do to make effective policy recommendations. This Brief is an
essential resource for policy makers and related professionals, graduate
students, and researchers in child and school psychology, family
studies, public health, social work, law/criminal justice, and
sociology.