Black Women in Prison & Children of the Incarcerated

Introduction

Adverse childhood experience (ACE) conceptualizes the confined space children are trapped once they have they have had a parent incarcerated. As a result of the incarceration, children and parents experience an irreparable loss of relationship, social status and displacement. Though, it could be argued that not providing health care to these populations is defensible, this decision would not help tackle global injustices resulting from racism and prejudice. Actually, the Rockefeller drug laws approved in 1973 by Nelson Rockefeller, the former mayor of New York state, set in motion extended prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenses (Drucker, 2019). Decidedly, incarcerated persons remain under the jurisdiction of prison systems that provide surveillance after their release irrespective of cause for prison sentences. In this report,a discussion on the fight of Black Women with social constructs of being labeled a felon through the lens of the films Black Women in Prison and Children of the Incarcerated will ensue along with an analysis of the impact of incarceration on children and parents from a larger global perspective based on the National Bureau of Justice Statistics. 

Mass Incarceration: Black Women Against Societal Social Constructs

The film Black women in prison is a rendition that does not provide solutions to resolving the rampant increase of mass incarceration of black women. The viewers are unable to discern the opportunities presented to former inmates for rehabilitating in society. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey (2019), the rate of victimization increased from 32.0 to 40.8 victimizations per 1,000 persons for households with an income less than $25,000 a year. The rate also increased from 9.7 to 16.3 per 1,000 persons. For the statistics provided across the board, the rate of violence was akin to an equal opportunity employer for individuals not notwithstanding socioeconomic status, age, gender and race. 

The film also stated there is an increased number of black women who are placed in warehouses where they receive no protection, or mental health support. Across global communities, the United States is the only country where policies support mass incarceration. Essentially, the penitentiary system is a blooming business concept utilized to support a new trade auction where more blacks are imprisoned for nonviolent drug offenses. Indeed, it is unclear the reasoning behind the racial influence justifying the existence of systems that stratify by education, age and gender. In fact, Ernest Drucker (2019) cites by supporting the fact that more than 2.5 million children have an incarcerated parent perpetuating a social and psychological perpetuation of social trauma in poor black communities.  

On the other hand, the film Children of the Incarcerated (2016) details the lives of children of women or parents who have been handed harsher prison sentences than their white counterparts. Though, some political candidates attempted to lessen the penitence for individuals with minor offenses, there is a protracted stigmatization from the seat of justice. Moreover, the children of those incarcerated are punished based on the prison sentence due to limited visitation permissions granted to inmates. Across the globe, incarcerated people are recruited from resource-deficient communities. Even after their release from these prison systems, their lives are immured outside with the limited movements based on their parole status. 

The pictorial content of both films are syntheses of a larger discussion on prison reform and it's non-existent application in the current socioeconomic, structural, political and cultural context. For instance, the number of violent crimes committed by offenders aged 12 to 17 was about 14% in violent incidents than 9% of the population as cited in the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2019). The age group is significant as most children depicted in the latter movie are those deemed most at risk because of the absence of the caregiver during the formative years. Mental health’s adverse effects take an emotional tool on the assailant and his/her children. Homelessness is another social stigma attached to those released from the prison system potentially increasing the rate of recidivism. Globally, the imprisonment of parents can lead to youth violence prevention which is a public health concern. As a whole, there is an increasing number of children orphaned by the prison system to cope with the loss of security. Due to the advent of psychological trauma, parents and children in these predicaments become incapacitated because of little to no preparation for rehabilitation beyond prisons undergirding the need for early intervention approaches (Tibbs et al. 2017). In its prime degradation, youth violence elicits premature death, disability, psychological trauma or physical injuries. 

The societal context provided in both films show the increased investment in prison systems reduces funding for public housing, health care assistance and schools. On the other hand, it takes an ambivalent stance on incarcerated women who are reinstituted outside of prison systems. These women continue to face structural racism infused through historical, cultural and institutional prejudices across an array of hierarchical systems because of the ex-felon scarlet letter. Additionally, it is noteworthy to understand the limitations of youth violence programs as they can only address one aspect of the consequences of youth violence in vulnerable communities. This brings to view how other institutions such as schools, health departments, law enforcement and faith-based organizations can engage to prevent violence and reduce recidivism rates.

Global Policy Recommendations: Mass Incarceration

Though the Incarcerated Campaign (Children of the Incarcerated, 2015) provides support to family members of those who are incarcerated, more advocates need to be designated to address the behavioral issues of children before, during and after the release of incarcerated parents. These sessions with children will provide a sense of relief for them to know they have support in spite of chronic depression. Financial assistance programs could alleviate the financial burden of mothers left without a male breadwinners. These conversations could potentially lead to discussions on allowing pregnant mothers to take care of their infants behind bars. An existing pilot program in Canada has implemented this strategic approach of developing Mother-Baby programs (Babies behind bars, 2015). Additionally, increased therapeutic sessions could set in motion an outlet for mothers to express their emotions and be guided to financial assistance. Ethical issues of increasing visitation days for certain groups of inmates could be instrumental in assessing flexible options for children with incarcerated parents. In other words, the family members of incarcerated people must be given the knowledge and resources to increase their political power to make change. 

Conclusion 

Mass incarceration presents its set of challenges to parents and children who grow up vicariously in prison systems with their parents. There is no concrete evidence of human rights violations for reducing prison sentences for children whose parents are incarcerated for nonviolent crimes. It cannot be contested that incarceration associates profound trauma to all parties involved. During these difficult times, there needs to be an increase of social programs who can speak to these disparities facing low-income communities. As it happens, Black women lack the political voice to advocate for themselves after their release from prison systems. However, through the increase of social programs to aid them in the process, this could open doors to unlock promising strategies to help facilitate rehabilitation in modern society. 

References

1. Digital Narrative. (2018). Black women behind bars: Race, gender and imprisonment [Video]. Youtube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pExb41JRFyA. 
2. Drucker, E. (2019). Incarcerated People. In Levy, B. S., & McStowe, H. L. (Eds.), Social injustice and public health (p.175-193). Oxford University Press.
3. InsideOut TV. (2015). Children of the incarcerated [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I6vL_OyNmA. 
4. Morgan, R. E., & Truman, J. L. (2019). Criminal victimization, 2017. National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
5. Tibbs, C. D., Layne, D., Bryant, B., Carr, M., Ruhe, M., Keitt, S., & Gross, J. (2017). Youth violence prevention: local public health approach. Journal of public health management and practice, 23(6), 641-643.