FWD.us’ data shows that one in two adults have an immediate family member currently or previously incarcerated. The statistic increases to almost two-thirds of all Americans if extended families are included. The reach of the mass incarceration crisis is extraordinary and it affects racial minorities and the poor in a unique way. FWD.us reports that “[b]lack people are 50 percent more likely than white people to have had a family member incarcerated, and … [p]eople earning less than $25,000 per year are 61 percent more likely than people earning more than $100,000 to have had a family member incarcerated.”

The report goes on to demonstrate that the negative consequences of incarceration are not limited to those behind prison walls. On the contrary, family members experience many hardships and burdens, according to Rose. Such burdens include the financial strains of losing a primary source of income and costs associated with travel, phone calls and bail. There are associated health risks that can result from the emotional trauma and social stigma of a family members’ incarceration. For example, those with family members in prison are more likely to develop diabetes or to experience a decline in mental health. Lastly, the incarcerated individual’s absence places a strain on relationships that can result in fractured families. During the webinar, Rowland reminded viewers that the in-prison divorce rate is close to double the national average.

SUPPORTING THE FAMILY DURING AND AFTER INCARCERATION

The family is one of the most basic and fundamental institutions in our society. As such, we should strive to counteract the harmful consequences of mass incarceration on family life. But who is best equipped to address the problem: the government, civil society or the individual? Prison Fellowship’s webinar made it clear that each has a part to play.

Government can and should tackle the essential task of reforming the criminal justice system to reduce mass incarceration. Little else will make as big a difference in the lives of incarcerated citizens and American society in general. Beyond systemic reforms, though, the government can make it easier for families to communicate with their incarcerated loved ones. Rowland pointed to the incredible number of hoops that incarcerated individuals’ families have to leap through to stay in contact with them. Rose told stories of teenagers and young adults having to drive hours and hours to access their loved ones’ facilities and endure invasive and almost humiliating security procedures for just a short visit. Phone calls with a loved one in prison are extraordinarily expensive, making regular communication even more difficult. The government could do a great deal for families by removing or mitigating these obstacles to family engagement. The First Step Act’s provision for placing individuals in prison facilities close to their homes is a good start, but it applies only to federal prisons, and more comprehensive reforms are required.

Civil society—specifically churches and nonprofits—can provide additional support to families. Imprisonment-related trauma is not often spoken about in churches. But FWD.us’ research shows that a significant proportion of the average congregation is affected by it nonetheless. If one in two Americans has had an immediate family member serve a jail or prison sentence, pastors and community leaders should not be afraid to breach this taboo subject and pave the way for dialogue. Rose was adamant that beginning a conversation is one of the most powerful things that can be done for families affected by incarceration. Nonprofits like Healing Communities can and do partner with churches to provide ministerial support for families with an incarcerated loved one. Others work independently to help keep those in prison connected with their spouses and children: Prison Fellowship, for instance, helps incarcerated individuals send presents home for the holidays through their Christmas Angel Tree program. Other nonprofits can step in to fill similarly supportive roles within their local communities and across the country.