Author Archives: Eric Okdeh

These facts make me feel desperate and so sad.*  I often think about the plight of the prisoners and the feeling that they are now trapped for life in a system which cannot “rehabilitate” or “correct” the real problems; Poverty, racism, social injustice. I have two younger cousins who were incarcerated as minors. I think about how their sentences and records, and the experience of being incarcerated will affect their lives forever. I have not visited them due to distance mostly, but it is such an insane barrier even without physical distance. The emotional and social distancing or prisoners from the public and their families is so harmful.

We stick everyone for everything in prison. Too much time is spent making new laws, and not enough time is found to formulate viable solutions to keep prisoners from returning… or from becoming incarcerated in the first place. I do not have a loved one behind bars.

My dad is incarcerated. It was life changing, even though I was an adult. My dad died while going to court after 33 days in jail. I would visit, but they only allowed my dad one visitor every Wednesday, so I took my mom.

The US prison system is broken and needs fixing. I do not have a family member behind bars, but if I did, I would visit, but many cannot. In New York State many incarcerated are sent to prisons upstate. These prisons are a 3 or 4 hour drive for some people, who don’t even drive or own a car.

I feel we are becoming the land of the prisons. I have a family member behind bars, I am his sister. His incarceration doesn’t impact me. I do not visit. It would have been too upsetting for both of us. He said it would remind him of home and he would feel more hopeless.

My brother has been sent to jail many times for petty crimes, but he is going to state prison in NJ for going to court drunk. His incarceration impacted me because he was living with me and it effects my family by arguing every day. I do not visit. He has had many chances to clean his life up. He would rather sit in state prison then clean up and stop drinking.

My mother was incarcerated. As a young child it just stops time. You don’t understand, and you don,t know what to do with all of your emotions. I would visit because she was my mommy and every girl needs their mommy.

I feel disappointed in the spirit of survival. It seems people give in to desperation rather than work for success. * I have family that are incarcerated. Most have at some point. I have visited, and I’ve told them I will not ever again. Too painful.     *In response to the following facts:   Did you know? One in every 28 adults were in prison, jail, or in probation or parole in PA in 2009 (Pew Report, 2009) There are more than 1.7 million children in the United Stated with an incarcerated parent including one in 15 African American children, one in 42 Hispanic children and one in 111 caucasian children. (The Sentencing Project 2009) Over half of incarcerated fathers reported that they were the primary source of financial support for their children prior to their incarceration. (Glaze and Maruschak Incarceration and the Family: A review of Research and Promising Approaches for Serving Fathers and Families, 2008)

My brother and dad are incarcerated. It impacts my daily routine all the time. I’m happy taking walks around the park and feel bad they cant too. I don’t visit, because prison is too scary to handle.

I have an uncle and a cousin that are incarcerated. It was a family outing to visit them on Sundays. I’m far more informed now.

These facts make me sad that children are growing up without positive role models. I wonder what we can do (if we will ever be able to) to stop people from becoming prisoners. I would visit an incarcerated family member of course. Family is family. It would be difficult, but I would try anyway.

It’s sad so many children don’t have their parents, but sometimes its for the better. There needs to be less luxuries in prison and less chances given to people who show no signs of correcting their lives. I do not have family in prison, but I work with a child advocacy agency.

Wow, 1 in 28, thats a lot*. Feels shocking to me. Too much money spent on prisons here in America. If drugs and the oldest profession (prostitution) would be legalized, there wouldn’t be so much over crowdedness and taxpayer money wasted. Thats just one example that would relieve over crowdedness. I would visit an incarcerated family member, but I guess it depends on the crime. But I’m leaning towards no, cause I’m too proud and I would not want to be made to feel “low”, to go to a prison and go through the visitation process… etc. to visit someone that did so wrong / committed crime.   *In response to the following facts:Did you know? One in every 28 adults were in prison, jail, or in probation or parole in PA in 2009 (Pew Report, 2009) There are more than 1.7 million children in the United Stated with an incarcerated parent including one in 15 African American children, one in 42 Hispanic children and one in 111 caucasian children. (The Sentencing Project 2009) Over half of incarcerated fathers reported that they were the primary source of financial support for their children prior to their incarceration. (Glaze and Maruschak Incarceration and the Family: A review of Research and Promising Approaches for Serving Fathers and Families, 2008)

You do the crime, you do the time. * My father is incarcerated, his imprisonment doesn’t affect my daily routine. I didn’t do anything so why would I be impacted? I visit because he is sill my family, family shouldn’t give up on each other.       *In response to the following facts:   Did you know? One in every 28 adults were in prison, jail, or in probation or parole in PA in 2009 (Pew Report, 2009) There are more than 1.7 million children in the United Stated with an incarcerated parent including one in 15 African American children, one in 42 Hispanic children and one in 111 caucasian children. (The Sentencing Project 2009) Over half of incarcerated fathers reported that they were the primary source of financial support for their children prior to their incarceration. (Glaze and Maruschak Incarceration and the Family: A review of Research and Promising Approaches for Serving Fathers and Families, 2008)

The facts are overwhelming*. There are too many children growing up without parents. These numbers say a lot about our legal system too, seems unfair. I would visit an incarcerated family member, I couldn’t imagine not seeing someone I love for the rest of my life.   *In response to the following facts: Did you know? One in every 28 adults were in prison, jail, or in probation or parole in PA in 2009 (Pew Report, 2009) There are more than 1.7 million children in the United Stated with an incarcerated parent including one in 15 African American children, one in 42 Hispanic children and one in 111 caucasian children. (The Sentencing Project 2009) Over half of incarcerated fathers reported that they were the primary source of financial support for their children prior to their incarceration. (Glaze and Maruschak Incarceration and the Family: A review of Research and Promising Approaches for Serving Fathers and Families, 2008)

I’m very happy that I was fortunate to have parents willing to be responsible for their own actions and those of their children. I do not have any family in prison. If I did, I would visit, I believe strong family support can make big differences in outcomes.

Im surprised and saddened. * Not surprised by a higher % of African American inmates due to an inequal American Society. * In response to the following facts: Did you know? One in every 28 adults were in prison, jail, or in probation or parole in PA in 2009 (Pew Report, 2009) There are more than 1.7 million children in the United Stated with an incarcerated parent including one in 15 African American children, one in 42 Hispanic children and one in 111 caucasian children. (The Sentencing Project 2009) Over half of incarcerated fathers reported that they were the primary source of financial support for their children prior to their incarceration. (Glaze and Maruschak Incarceration and the Family: A review of Research and Promising Approaches for Serving Fathers and Families, 2008)

The prison system is inhumane and the largest violation of human rights in America. Penitentiary comes from the word “penance”, and although I am not religious, this is clearly no longer the model for prisons in America. Facts like the ones above * reflect the inhumanity that occurs on a daily basis.   * In response to the following facts:   Did you know? One in every 28 adults were in prison, jail, or in probation or parole in PA in 2009 (Pew Report, 2009) There are more than 1.7 million children in the United Stated with an incarcerated parent including one in 15 African American children, one in 42 Hispanic children and one in 111 caucasian children. (The Sentencing Project 2009) Over half of incarcerated fathers reported that they were the primary source of financial support for their children prior to their incarceration. (Glaze and Maruschak Incarceration and the Family: A review of Research and Promising Approaches for Serving Fathers and Families, 2008)

There needs to be more educational programs to keep students in school and off the streets. African American leaders need to do more. They should be embarrassed by that number. * I do not have a family member incarcerated. If I did, I would visit, if the crime did not hurt someone else. I would not visit a murderer, rapist, or child molester.     * Quote was in response to the following facts Did you know? One in every 28 adults were in prison, jail, or in probation or parole in PA in 2009 (Pew Report, 2009) There are more than 1.7 million children in the United Stated with an incarcerated parent including one in 15 African American children, one in 42 Hispanic children and one in 111 caucasian children. (The Sentencing Project 2009) Over half of incarcerated fathers reported that they were the primary source of financial support for their children prior to their incarceration. (Glaze and Maruschak Incarceration and the Family: A review of Research and Promising Approaches for Serving Fathers and Families, 2008)

My brother is in prison. When a family member is in prison you dont get to see them, its kinda like their dead. I visit him to see how he is doing, and to show him love.