Author Archives: Eric Okdeh

The facts are what they are… FACTS, and reality of a growing population. I have several family members that are in prison. Aunt: incarcerated throughout my childhood for shoplifting, drugs, and prostitution. Uncle: as a child, and again recently for shoplifting, drugs, and assault charges. 2nd Uncle: incarcerated from the time I was 6 to now (27 years old) My family does not discuss reasons.

Everyone chooses own path regardless of race. Parents who commit crimes condemn their own children. My son’s father is incarcerated I am alone in financially supporting my child. Raising- I am happy he is out of our lives financial- I am BROKE and PA discontinues any financial support once the parent is locked up.

Society likes to believe in human progress, but…(?) Perhaps there are issues which need interdisciplinary approaches. Everything from psychology to theology to medicine to sociology

I have a cousin who is incarcerated, its extremely hard.I miss him, long phone calls are not fun. I would visit him, but my mom wont let me.  

Well I wish these facts were not so, but since fathers and mothers with children are in jail is very sad. Maybe there’ll be change in the future with less parents in jail. My brother is in jail. I think about his health and welfare every day, and I hope to see him released one day. I try to visit my brother at least three or four times a year because I love and care about him forever.

My older brother has been incarcerated since I was 11 years old. My family struggles because he was the breadwinner, along with my mother. I lost a best friend and a father figure. I always visit my brother, he is my heart! I will always show him love and support!

My lover and best friend is incarcerated. It is a hinderance on the whole family, me and our kids. I make time to visit because thats the only way he will be sane.

The Prison makes it hard for visiting your loved one. They make you wait and wait, and change the rules whenever they want to. You are treated like a prisoner and less than when visiting. Overall its made it very hard to visit based on long waits and unpleasant personnel. For 20 years I have visited and never been treated as another person or an equal to prison staff.

My son is incarcerated. It’s a burden. I visit him when I’m able to travel. He is here in PA and I live in Nevada.

My dad is incarcerated, I think about him all the time. I wonder if he’s OK or not, and hope that he is in good health. I visit him because he’s my dad and people do stupid things when their young.

In response to these 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) Sometimes, its just the tree you arrived from, or just dumb choices. I have a family member that is incarcerated, but the relationship isn’t important. Having an incarcerated family member in no way impacts me. I just stay in prayer and hope the individual will become better.

These inmates have potential but they need more guidance. Lack of support has them continuing to mess up and come back in the system. My Husband is incarcerated and I have (?) many times but sometimes is becomes normal to them once they been in the system. Thats the way to live. I stress and get worried if he is going to be mentally stable. Support makes a difference and gives them hope to strive to be the right thing in the future for the sake of their family. Shared by anon These children have suffered terribly. 3 of their sons, my beloved nephews, have died. The other children have suffered terribly and still live with the effects, as it does the rest of us. The pain penetrates my soul daily.

My wife is incarcerated, and my whole life has been interrupted, crushed emotionally, food, $, in every aspect. I visit because she needs the support. .

In response to the posted facts: It puts me more in prayer with God, that he touches his children and shows them a different way. I pray a solution is provided somehow for their suffering. I have many family members incarcerated, and it is not trying anymore. God has given me peace w their situations. I absolutely would visit them. They are my family and they made an ill decision that cost them their freedom, but it doesn’t lessen my love for them