Juvenile Incarceration: The Effects on Family and Community

Artwork by Chelsea Aguilar, a CSUCI student.

Written by Gracie Marcelo, our CLU intern.

There are about 34,200 young people locked up in the U.S. Most are in juvenile facilities, and some are in adult jails or detention centers. That number might look small on paper since it is only around 0.046% of all youth in the country, but the impact is anything but small. When a young person is incarcerated, it affects their whole family and sends ripple effects through the community around them. In this blog post, I will be talking about the effects juvenile incarceration has on families and communities. I want to touch on relationships, lack of resources, disconnection from society, and the overall impact on mental health. Reducing the stigma around this issue can encourage those facing these hardships to seek out the support they need.

Having a child or sibling who is incarcerated can lead to emotional strain, communication issues, and major shifts in family dynamics. Parents may feel they are at fault for their child’s actions. They may feel guilt for not seeing the signs or not intervening quickly enough. There is also a tremendous amount of grief, especially when parents can no longer see their child every day like they are used to. Waiting for visitation days and phone calls can create even more distance between the child and their family.

For siblings, there may be resentment toward the incarcerated child for disrupting the family. They may feel pressure to be “perfect” so they “do not end up like them.” This pressure can be internal or pushed onto them by parents. A major impact is the reshaping of family dynamics. Roles that family members are not used to taking on can suddenly fall on them. When parents put increased focus on the child who is incarcerated, siblings may be expected to take care of one another. Older siblings may feel they have to step into a parental role to protect their younger siblings from the same fate. These shifts can have long-term effects on mental health and family relationships.

Navigating the courts and the criminal justice system can also cause immense stress and financial burden. This is especially difficult for low-income families, who may have to work more hours or take on additional jobs to support their child through the process. Communities affected by juvenile delinquency tend to have high rates of poverty, limited youth programs, and underfunded schools. There is a lack of investment in safe spaces for youth, a lack of opportunities, and a lack of focus on mental health. Youth in these areas may feel unsafe and unheard, develop mistrust toward authority figures, and experience trauma that repeats across generations. Without investing in alternatives to criminal behavior, young people are more likely to engage in it.

To sum up, juvenile delinquency affects youth, families, and communities in many ways. Families need access to resources that strengthen their bonds and ease the burdens caused by incarceration. Communities need to invest in prevention through mentorship, mental health support, and after-school programs. There also needs to be an increase in diversion programs for youth who are struggling but have not reached the point of incarceration. Youth voices must be centered and amplified.

At BRITE, youth are the focus. BRITE provides education and prevention programs that support youth well-being. They offer family support, resources, and community workshops with purpose. Some of BRITE’s main goals are to build protective factors through leadership development, substance use prevention, mental health awareness, and youth empowerment. BRITE’s community outreach depends on strong partnerships with schools and local organizations to create safe spaces and healthy environments for young people. When we focus on strengthening our families and communities, we create safer environments, and that reduces the need for incarceration. We should all commit to building the support systems our youth deserve.

For mental health and wellness resources for teens, adults, and families in Ventura County, visit Wellness Every Day.