In a nation that imprisons more of its citizens than any other, Indiana ranks near the top. In terms of the increase in the percentage of the population that's behind bars, Indiana rose to number four in 2008 and is expected to be second only to Alabama for 2009. The “Iron Law of Corrections” dictates ever increasing numbers of Hoosiers will be released each year from confinement.
The Department of Correction’s longitudinal studies reveal that employment post-release at sustainable wages is the number one predictor of recidivism. Released individuals face several barriers that…
Low-income fathers should be a part of the family policy equation. Men are able to financially contribute to their children's well-being and help lift them out of poverty in the short term. They also provide care and emotional supports that can improve children's life outcomes and help break the cycle of poverty in the long term. Unfortunately, far too many low-income men, and especially men of color, face barriers to playing these roles in their children's lives. They are disproportionately disconnected from some extremely vital domains, and that harms them, their children, and families more…
Family Structure and the Economic Mobility of Children explores the relationship between parental marital status and intergenerational economic mobility. Co-authored by Thomas DeLeire of the University of Wisconsin and Leonard M. Lopoo of Syracuse University, the report compares the economic mobility outcomes for children who were born to single mothers, divorced parents, and continuously married parents. It finds that, across the income distribution, divorce is particularly harmful for children's economic mobility in both absolute and relative terms. The report also highlights the striking…
This paper argues that supporting responsible fatherhood and related programs and services is not an attack on single mothers but rather helps low-income mothers with economic stability, child care, work-life balance, the identification of mothers and fathers involved in violent situations, reproductive health, more relationships and family choices, and positive childhood outcomes. It calls for increased federal support for fatherhood responsibility programs that help men help their families and alleviate some of the stress and feelings of hopelessness that low-income men of color experience…
We Dream A World: The 2025 Vision for Black Men and Boys identifies concrete policy solutions to close educational achievement gaps, ensure workforce success, reduce health disparities, improve conditions for low-income fathers and improve the overall well being of black men, their families and communities. The 2025 Campaign for Black Men and Boys focuses its work in five key areas: education, fatherhood and families, employment and wealth, health, and criminal justice.We Dream a World is a call to action for America to begin strategically addressing the problems that hinder Black men and…
This chapter addresses the reentry challenges faced by low-skilled men released from U.S. prisons. I empirically characterize the increases in incarceration occurring since 1970 and assess the degree to which these changes result from changes in policy as opposed to changes in criminal behavior. I discuss what is known about the children of inmates and the likelihood that a child in the United States has an incarcerated parent. The chapter then addresses the employment barriers faced by former prison inmates with a particular emphasis on how employers view criminal history records in…
Many parents without custody of their children work and pay their full child support despite their meager incomes. In 2006, the New York State Legislature enacted a new tax credit to help these parents make ends meet as they pay their child support in full. Although the tax credit was successfully implemented in 2006, only 5,280 noncustodial parents received the tax credit that year. This report identifies three reasons for this result. It also describes how the law was implemented and the challenges that were encountered during implementation. It concludes by examining who might be motivated…
