An estimated 65,459 children in Pennsylvania are growing up with a parent in jail or prison, according to recent data from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
This staggering figure highlights the widespread impact of incarceration on families, with nationwide statistics revealing that nearly half of adults have had a close family member incarcerated and one in 14 children have lost a parent living with them to imprisonment.
In an effort to address these issues, state Rep. Andre Carroll, a legislator representing parts of Northwest Philadelphia, has proposed House Bill 1506. The bill, introduced in May 2025, aims to enhance communication between incarcerated individuals and their families by making phone calls and other forms of communication free.
Importantly, the bill also seeks to prevent the replacement of in-person visits with alternatives such as video calls.
As a psychologist and professor of human development and family studies with over 25 years of experience studying children with incarcerated parents, I have witnessed firsthand the critical role that in-person visits play in maintaining family bonds.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, in-person visits were halted at jails and prisons, prompting my colleagues and me to interview 71 jailed parents in Wisconsin to gauge their experiences and preferences regarding remote video visits with their children.
The overwhelming sentiment from these parents was one of longing for in-person visits, citing the inability to physically touch and hug their children as a significant emotional barrier.
One parent poignantly expressed, “Contact means a lot. This type of stuff breaks families apart, not being able to see a person face to face or touch a person.”
Another parent stated, “Video visits are good as it fits into their schedule, but they are not the same. … Giving your child a hug is worth a hundred video visits.”
Currently, many local jails across the nation are substituting in-person visits with video options. An analysis of 40 county jails in Michigan revealed that 33 had implemented bans on in-person visits, a trend concerning for families striving to maintain connections.
Incarceration can exacerbate mental health and well-being issues for children, though research indicates that many youngsters show resilience despite these challenges.
Resilience refers to the ability to develop competence and strength in the face of significant adversity. In-person visits have been documented to fortify parent-child relationships, a critical factor for fostering resilience in children.
Moreover, studies have demonstrated that children benefit from visits with incarcerated parents when those visits are integrated into intervention programs, which may include mentoring or child-friendly activities.
Child-friendly visits enable children to engage in meaningful interactions with their parents—bonding through activities such as games, reading, or arts and crafts designed to foster their connection. These visits allow for physical touch and movement within a supportive environment, ensuring a developmentally appropriate experience for children.
In contrast, noncontact visits, where children see their parents through plexiglass, can leave young ones feeling confused, as they are unable to fully connect with their parents.
The separation from their children remains a profound challenge for incarcerated parents, who often report feelings of distress and depression, particularly when limited contact is available.
Research indicates that more consistent communication and visits can lead to improvements in mental health, reduced behavioral infractions, and better relationships with caregivers at home.
Incarcerated parents who maintain connections with their children also tend to face lower rates of recidivism, which holds positive implications for society as a whole.
For instance, a study conducted with 507 adults incarcerated for felony charges in a Virginia county jail found that frequent contact with family members during incarceration enhanced family connectedness, positively influencing mental health during the first year after release.
Despite the clear benefits of in-person visits, numerous barriers hinder regular communication between incarcerated parents and their children.
Economic constraints are often a significant obstacle, as the financial burden of supporting a loved one in prison can be overwhelming. Families with fewer resources are less likely to facilitate visits. Additionally, some prisons impose exorbitant fees for phone and video calls.
According to the Prison Policy Initiative, the average cost of a 15-minute phone call from a Pennsylvania prison was over $3 in 2021, further complicating the ability for families, particularly Black and Latino families who disproportionately experience financial strain from incarceration, to maintain communication.
Other barriers include geographical distance from the prison or jail, scheduling conflicts, and restrictive mail policies that limit communication methods. Additionally, strained relationships between incarcerated parents and their families can further reduce the likelihood of contact.
To address these challenges, organizations such as the Pennsylvania Prison Society have implemented transportation programs to assist families facing financial hardships. The Pennsylvania Prison Society currently provides free rides from Philadelphia to four state correctional institutions, with children under 18 receiving round-trip bus tickets at no cost.
Some facilities are beginning to offer limited free video visits or phone calls, easing some communication burdens. For example, incarcerated individuals in Pennsylvania can receive up to four in-person visits per month, in addition to six no-cost video visits.
Various advocacy organizations are working tirelessly to ensure that children and their families stay connected with incarcerated loved ones. Earlier this year, two Michigan counties saw nonprofit legal advocacy groups help children file landmark civil rights lawsuits, asserting a constitutional right to visit their parents in jail.
As an expert witness in these cases, I remain hopeful that they will not only secure visiting rights but also elevate awareness about the essential role that face-to-face visits play in promoting the current and future well-being of incarcerated individuals and their families.
image source from：metrophiladelphia
