Did you know that one in 28 kids has a parent in jail? I didn't and when I found out I was dumbfounded. Many of these parents are not behind bars for violent crimes, and while I believe they need to pay for their actions, it breaks my heart to think of all those kids who grow up with parents in jail and somehow have to get used to weekly one-hour long visits in jail to get to know them.
That's why I must say that as radical as it sounds, having kids whose parents are incarcerated go to summer camp in jail is a good idea.
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According to a story done by The Washington Post, a Maryland prison decided to implement this week-long summer camp to allow children to spend some quality time with their fathers. For five hours every day, the kids get to play, dance and have fun with their dads, and from the looks on their faces, they seem to love it.
Considering that children with parents in jail are six times more likely to be suspended or expelled from school, this sounds like a great option to try to lower that number. One of the quotes in the story that really caught my attention said something about how these men might not be very good citizens, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're bad fathers.
Plus, it's important to remember that these prisoners will leave jail one day and will have to reintegrate into society. If they don't have a strong connection to their families, they'll most likely end up in trouble once again. I think that giving these fathers the opportunity to spend some quality time with their kids must do wonders for their desire to change and be better human beings once they get out. I may be completely wrong, but I don't think we lose anything by giving it a try.
Image via Thinkstock
