The Impact of Incarceration on Families
In the United States, nearly 2.7 million children are affected by the incarceration of a parent. This number is equivalent to the population of Mississippi, highlighting the widespread effect of imprisonment on families. Beyond the statistics, there are real people experiencing the pain of separation and the challenges of life without a primary caregiver.
Teresa, a formerly incarcerated mother, co-founded a nonprofit organization that supports the reentry of individuals returning from incarceration. She understands the emotional toll of being apart from family and values every form of communication, whether it’s a phone call, message, or moment of connection. Kevin leads a company that provides responsible technology for incarcerated individuals and their families. Together, they share a commitment to developing policies and tools that help preserve family bonds and improve outcomes.
The Scope of the Issue
Approximately 1.9 million people are currently incarcerated in the U.S., with about half having children under the age of 18. Additionally, between 4 and 5 percent of women entering correctional facilities are pregnant, meaning that the impact of incarceration begins early and can affect generations. Children with an incarcerated parent are five to six times more likely to become incarcerated themselves, often facing educational barriers such as higher rates of special education placement, reduced school retention, and increased behavioral issues in classrooms. These challenges are often linked to the instability caused by sudden separation without explanation.
Technology as a Solution
Technology is playing a crucial role in rewriting this narrative. Secure video calls, e-messaging, educational platforms, and digital reentry resources allow incarcerated individuals to stay involved in their children’s lives. Kevin recently visited Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, a women’s facility in New York that runs one of the few prison nursery programs in the country. The women at the facility expressed deep appreciation for the technology available to them, especially the tablets used to stay in touch with their children. They shared how seeing their kids, receiving pictures, and accessing parenting content helped them maintain emotional connections and prepare for reentry.
Many also emphasized that these tablets provide access to job training and workforce readiness programs—essential tools that help them return home better equipped to support their families and build a stable future. The ability to offer support, witness milestones, or simply say “I love you” was not taken for granted. For many of these women, the technology was more than a convenience; it was a lifeline. It helped them maintain hope and a sense of purpose, with the goal of returning home and being there for their families.
Challenges and Solutions
Maintaining those connections isn’t always easy. Many families face challenges that make regular communication feel out of reach. Safe, affordable technology paired with supportive policies and reentry programming like job readiness training and education offer scalable, impactful solutions. Technology is more than a convenience—it is a foundation for stronger families and safer communities.
Both Teresa and Kevin have seen what is possible when incarcerated individuals are treated as members of families, not just statistics. They have witnessed how maintaining those bonds during incarceration can change the trajectory of a child’s life. Helping families remain connected, especially during one of the most challenging chapters of their lives, changes outcomes. Let’s ensure our policies and technologies support families, strengthen parent-child connections, and improve the impact of incarceration for families when they are apart.
Kevin Elder is president of Securus Technologies, a technology communications firm serving prisons nationwide. Teresa Hodge is president of Mission: Launch, a nonprofit focused on improving outcomes for Americans with arrest or conviction records. She is also chairperson of the Aventiv Technologies Advisory Board.