Research
Children of Incarcerated Caregivers (CIC) is a resource for information on parental incarceration, with a particular focus on prison nurseries and alternatives to incarceration for caregivers of minor children. We also publish special reports on issues like pregnancy in prison and the pretrial period. This research informs our advocacy for evidence-based policies, laws, and programs that protect the rights and promote the best interests of children whose parents are involved with the criminal legal system.
In many countries, jails and prisons allow young children to live with an incarcerated parent. We review research and reporting on these arrangements, consult with experts, and publish reports on their limitations, benefits, and best practices.
Alternatives to parental incarceration allow parents of minor children to remain in the community. We promote alternatives, such as family-focused diversion and probation programs, when it is in the best interest of a defendant’s child. We also create and share resources that will enable judges to obtain and consider information about a parent’s caregiving responsibilities during pretrial and sentencing decisions.
Check out our reports, podcasts, and other publications →
Domestic and International Policy Advocacy
CIC advocates for policies, programs, and procedures that promote the best interests of children impacted by parental incarceration in the U.S. and beyond.
We collaborate with NGO partners in-country to produce “shadow reports” about parental incarceration, pregnancy in detention, and children living in prisons with a caregiver. We submit these reports to United Nations committees reviewing countries for human rights compliance.
We are working with our global partners to develop and enshrine essential standards for the perinatal care of women and children living in prison.
We facilitate the Global Prison Nursery Network (GPNN), a collaborative, international coalition that advocates for the best interests of children living in custody with an incarcerated parent. The GPNN has 16 partners across 13 countries, and continues to grow. Each fall, we host a conference that brings together researchers, practitioners, and impacted people from around the world to share knowledge and advance this important work.
In the past, we’ve collaborated with the Human Rights Program at the University of Minnesota to lead the Parental Incarceration & Children’s Human Rights project, an interdisciplinary initiative that brought together scholars and community partners to apply an international human rights lens to the issue of parental incarceration. Supported in part by a University of Minnesota Liberal Arts Engagement Hub Residency, this project is now focused on introducing questions about caregiving responsibilities to bail evaluation forms.
Legal Education & Training
CIC offers training resources for lawyers and other legal professionals about the importance of considering defendants’ caregiving responsibilities and the impact that judicial decisions have on defendants’ children. We have produced reports and podcasts about the pretrial period, sentencing, alternatives to incarceration, family impact statements, and more. We also host continuing legal education courses and other opportunities for discussion with legal professionals and organizations.
Student Research Fellowships
Guiding the next generation of changemakers is a core component of CIC’s work. We provide impactful research fellowships to graduate and law students. These students research policy issues and contribute to our advocacy efforts. To provide these opportunities, CIC partners with law schools and pro bono programs.
Youth Support
CIC connects youth who are impacted by parental incarceration and their families to enrichment activities around the Twin Cities. We offer opportunities for youth in our network to attend a week of summer camp at no cost to their families and bring year-round entertainment to families with tickets to local events. We also collaborate with Mercy Vineyard Church on an Angel Tree Gift Drive, an initiative that brings donated holiday gifts to youth in the CIC network.