A recent study from Ohio based researchers laid out the generational effects that can impact children of incarcerated parents.

The study, from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio also identified “foundational drivers of criminal justice involvement,” which include things unrelated to crimes, like economic limitations and discrimination.

“Poor community conditions … and exposure to racism and discrimination increase the risk of criminal justice involvement, drive poor health outcomes and create disparities and inequities in both,” the study’s executive summary stated.

In studying the impacts of different state issues on children and families, the HPIO looked at the incarceration of a household member as an “adverse childhood experience,” a category of health issues that “can cause serious and long-lasting health and economic harms across generations and for individuals, families and communities,” according to the HPIO.

“Criminal justice involvement disrupts family stability and strains relationships, exposing children to adversity and trauma at no fault of their own,” the study found.

That adversity can put children at risk of also falling into the criminal justice system, a kind of generational cycle the HPIO is hoping can be reversed at the state level.

Researchers for the group used their analysis of criminal justice on health outcomes to direct findings at policymakers as they prepare for a new year of legislative service.

The study found that Ohio “has a strong foundation for supporting children and families,” but prevention and mitigation of criminal justice on a child’s life could be improved.

“There are evidence-informed policy and program solutions to prevent and break generational cycles of justice-involvement, support children and families who have an incarcerated parent and improve community health and safety,” the recommendations for policymakers concluded.

In a previous annual Health Value Dashboard compiled by the institution, Ohio ranked 40th out of 50 states on incarceration rates, meaning children in households where an adult was arrested, served prison time or even was placed on probation, saw increased risks of poverty, worse educational outcomes, housing instability and delayed child development.

“Children whose parents are in jail or prison are more likely to develop a learning disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, behavioral or conduct problems, developmental delays and speech or language problems,” the study found.

The negatives that can attach themselves to children with a parent or family member who is incarcerated touch everything from education to health care access, according to the HPIO. Children can experience poor grades, higher drop-out rates, the involvement of children services agencies or separation from their families, loss of health insurance or homelessness because of an incidence of incarceration in their household.

Criminal justice isn’t wholly made up of those who commit crimes and face the requisite sentence, HPIO argued. Sometimes “community surveillance,” low-income communities and racism play their own part in increasing the likelihood that the criminal justice system will impact households.

“Communities of color are more likely to be policed through community surveillance, while also being under-policed for emergency services,” the HPIO study stated, citing Tufts University research. “Policing practices such as stop-and-frisk and racial profiling also cause families of color to become involved in the justice system at a higher rate.”

Even after one has served their time, re-entry can cause its own issues that connect to household health.

“People who have been incarcerated are more likely to face homelessness and limited educational and economic opportunity upon release due to collateral sanctions and prejudices against people with a history of justice involvement,” the HPIO found.

Collateral sanctions are barriers that hit Ohioans after they’ve served time in prison, which can include restrictions to employment, education, housing, professional licensure and even volunteering and civic participation.

“These barriers can prolong many of the negative outcomes of parental arrest and incarceration on children, such as homelessness,” the study stated.

On top of immediate impacts on children, those in families with incarceration histories can increase the risk that children continue a cycle of incarceration, starting with juvenile justice.

Starting in the juvenile justice system, children can have “lower educational attainment, higher rates of substance abuse and worse mental health and behavioral problems” often exacerbated by their experience within the juvenile justice system.

Ohio was forced to look at their juvenile justice system after USA Today’s Ohio newspapers put together an investigation showed violence and unsafe conditions prevalent within the walls of the state’s youth justice facilities.

The HPIO study acknowledged “notable policy changes” in Ohio that could bolster improvements in the criminal justice space. Researchers mentioned 2023’s Senate Bill 288, which removed marijuana use and possession from a list of criminal records that would disqualify an individual from being employed in certain categories of service, along with the state operating budget passed this year that included trauma-informed services in school district budgets.

The institute also recommended more focus on mentoring programs and social-emotional learning programs, which “teach and enhance critical life skills that enable children to handle stressful situations, manage emotions and tackle life’s challenge.”

Use of student wellness funds and Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid for these purposes could bring about better family health and well-being, the study stated.

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