Parents Behind Bars

The number of women who are being incarcerated nationwide has risen by 57 percent and 75 percent are mothers, the New Britain Herald reported. In Connecticut, 70 percent of juvenile detainees have parents who are incarcerated, according to the state’s court support services division. As a result, the impact of incarcerated parents was discussed at a day-long conference in an effort to identify the needs of children who are dealing with a parent who is, or has been, incarcerated and to examine ways to keep the connection between parent and child while separated.