The average incarcerated father has 2.1 children. Their parenting relationships are often complex, with some men having children with multiple partners. Forty-two percent of state prisoners reported living with one or more of their minor children in the period immediately prior to their incarceration (Glaze & Maruschak, 2008).
- The average age of children with an incarcerated parent is 8 years old (Mumola, 2000).
- Most incarcerated fathers (88%) report that at least one of their children is in the care of the child’s other parent, compared to 37% of mothers (Glaze and Maruschak, 2008).
- Of children with an incarcerated father, 12% live with a grandparent or other relative and 4% live in foster care or with a non-family member (Johnson, 2006).
Exhibit 2-2 shows the percentage of children of incarcerated fathers, by age.
| Age | Age Breakdown of Children with Father in Prison |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 2.1% |
| 1–4 years | 20.4% |
| 5–9 years | 35.1% |
| 10–14 years | 28.0% |
| 15–17 years | 14.5% |
| Source: Mumola, C. (2000). Incarcerated parents and children. Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics. |
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