The Long-Term Effects of Parental Incarceration in the Latino Community in Southern
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Omi Godwits, University of Idaho
Presentation Date
7-16-2026
Abstract
Parental incarceration disrupts family stability nationwide, straining parent-child bonds, caregiving well-being, and household economic stability, which can have a persistent impact across generations. Latino families bear a disproportionate share of this burden, exacerbated by cultural stigma, reduced access to resources, and immigration-related stressors, particularly in growing regions like Southern Idaho. Despite the significant overrepresentation of Latino individuals in the federal prison population, existing research on parental incarceration rarely disaggregates findings by race, ethnicity, or geography. As a result, Latino families and rural Latino communities are largely absent from the literature, leaving their experiences and the mechanisms of family instability within this population largely invisible. This study employs a qualitative research design grounded in critical criminological and subcultural theory to examine how parental incarceration affects families in the Latino community. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews will be conducted with a purposive sample of 6 to 8 participants—either formerly incarcerated parents or individuals who had a parent face incarceration. The interviews will focus on exploring relationship bonds, economic conditions, and social mobility. The analysis anticipates identifying recurring themes related to disrupted parent-child bonding, caregiving stress, financial strain, and stigma unique to the intersection of immigration status and incarceration. The findings aim to illuminate how these dynamics manifest distinctly within the Latino community, where perceived cultural isolation may deepen the effects observed in existing national studies. By centering on this understudied population, the research seeks to contribute to our understanding of the long-term effects of parental incarceration and inform culturally responsive support systems that empower Latino voices.
The Long-Term Effects of Parental Incarceration in the Latino Community in Southern
Parental incarceration disrupts family stability nationwide, straining parent-child bonds, caregiving well-being, and household economic stability, which can have a persistent impact across generations. Latino families bear a disproportionate share of this burden, exacerbated by cultural stigma, reduced access to resources, and immigration-related stressors, particularly in growing regions like Southern Idaho. Despite the significant overrepresentation of Latino individuals in the federal prison population, existing research on parental incarceration rarely disaggregates findings by race, ethnicity, or geography. As a result, Latino families and rural Latino communities are largely absent from the literature, leaving their experiences and the mechanisms of family instability within this population largely invisible. This study employs a qualitative research design grounded in critical criminological and subcultural theory to examine how parental incarceration affects families in the Latino community. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews will be conducted with a purposive sample of 6 to 8 participants—either formerly incarcerated parents or individuals who had a parent face incarceration. The interviews will focus on exploring relationship bonds, economic conditions, and social mobility. The analysis anticipates identifying recurring themes related to disrupted parent-child bonding, caregiving stress, financial strain, and stigma unique to the intersection of immigration status and incarceration. The findings aim to illuminate how these dynamics manifest distinctly within the Latino community, where perceived cultural isolation may deepen the effects observed in existing national studies. By centering on this understudied population, the research seeks to contribute to our understanding of the long-term effects of parental incarceration and inform culturally responsive support systems that empower Latino voices.