Thousands of Mississippi parents won't celebrate Christmas with their children because they're incarcerated. MPB's Desare Frazier takes a look at the issue and the effect on kids.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation reports in 2016, 55-thousand Mississippi children had a parent who at some point was in prison. Shakena Bowie counsels children and families coping with this issue at Infusion Metro in Jackson.
"If effects their grades. It effects their outlook on life, not wanting to participate in things, shying away from anything that parents are involved in. I have a young man and to me his just overall attitude and behavior is one of I don't care," said Bowie.
Pauline Rogers is with the Prison Fellowship of Mississippi. She says the number of people in prison nationwide is at record levels. According to a report by FWD.us, a bi-partisan group of business leaders, half of all adults have an immediate family member currently or previously in prison. Rogers says they have an Angel Tree program for inmates that allows parents to register their child to receive a Christmas present.
"The gifts are going to be given children of prisoners. But it's going to be given as if their incarcerated parent sent it to them or gave it to them" said Rogers.
Rogers says the program will provide more then 1,000 Christmas gifts. Shakena Bowie says Infusion Metro has more than 200 children in their program, where they can spend time and receive encouragement.
"Helping them with understanding that it is tough. It is tough trying to under being empathetic to what they're dealing with," said Bowie.
Bowie says more programs are needed to help prevent behavior problems that could later lead to the children entering the prison system.
