The Unknown Struggles of Children with Incarcerated Parents

Abstract This project explores the impact of parental incarceration on children in India, examining the psychological, social, and legal challenges they face. With a focus on the emotional and behavioural effects, the study delves into the trauma and mental health issues prevalent among these children, highlighting how factors such as disrupted attachments, exposure to negative environments, and societal stigma contribute to their struggles. The paper also investigates the living conditions of children within prisons, assessing the adequacy of space, hygiene, safety measures, nutrition, and access to child-friendly facilities. It examines how overcrowding, limited stimulation, and restricted mobility affect children during their most formative years. The study also examines the emotional impact of exposure to stress or conflict in the prison environment. Beyond the prison setting, it highlights the shortcomings of India"s foster care and adoption systems, including inconsistent quality of care, limited supervision, and the risk of neglect or abuse due to gaps in oversight. This paper further aims to examine the reintegration of children that have passed through the system into society, along with assessing the degree of reintegration these children will have to go through and the degree of alienation they face.