The proposed research will aim at determining whether children of incarcerated parents demonstrate a disproportionate exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACE). The list of ACE’s comprises parental divorce or separation, parental death, household member abuse, violence exposure, household member mental illness, and household member substance problems. It is assumed that such negative aspects are prevalent in the case of children of incarcerated parents. Accordingly, the proposed research must utilize an appropriate design to explore this issue.
- The Method of Data Collection: Mixed: survey and secondary data will both be utilized.
- The Research Design:
- First, there will be a survey of families in which there are incarcerated parents. Children and their legal representatives will be asked to share their experience in regards to potential ACE’s.
- Secondly, data from credible sources will be utilized to examine the issue within a greater context. The first stage will not have a large sample, which is why global statistical data will be useful within the framework of the project.
Research Participants
The study will require the personal involvement of several families. They will be families in which at least one of the parents is incarcerated, and the child is younger than fourteen years old. Online communication and personal connections will be used to determine the study group. In order to ensure the results’ accuracy, there will be a control group of three families, in which neither of the parents is incarcerated. In fact, a parent’s incarceration will serve as the independent variable, whereas the presence of ACE’s in the family will be the dependent one during all stages.
Survey
The survey will revolve around the potential ACE’s in relation to parental incarceration. The questions will serve to determine whether there are particular issues present within the family while not being direct. For example, “Have you ever felt threatened by one of your relatives? If so, who was that: A: parent. B: grandparent C: sibling D: aunt/uncle, E: other. The exact phrasing of all the questions is to be finalized later.
Secondary Data
The use of secondary data will be required to analyze the incidence rate of ACE’s on a larger scale. Statistical information from several organizations will be collected and processed to determine a general pattern. This research stage will have a larger scope, making it potentially more accurate. The secondary data will comprise the statistics regarding potential ACE’s in the cases of children under the age of fourteen. The information will be recent, and the study will encompass the period between 2009 and 2019.
Policy Implications
The proposed research appears promising in terms of current and potential policies. First of all, it will provide a better understanding of the correlation between parents’ incarceration and their children’s exposure to traumatizing experiences. Allegedly, the ACE’s may increase the chances of a child’s future involvement with illegal activities.
The same can be said about having an incarcerated parent. Therefore, the study will have a three-point system in question: parent incarceration – ACE exposure – risks of potential involvement with crime. This way, the research will reveal the impact, which the current functioning of criminal justice has on entire families and children, in particular. If the increasing incarceration rates lead to negative consequences in terms of ACE’s, pushing children toward crime, the policy deserves to be revised on all levels.