Where does the Stigma of Prisoners’ Children Come from: A Sociological Discussion Based on Criminal Genes

Abstract

The situation of children whose parents are involved in adult criminal proceedings is becoming a pressing global public policy issue. Parental incarceration often harms children. For these children, parental incarceration may affect their development and social integration and, more seriously, may increase the likelihood of their future criminality. This paper first analyses what stigma looks like for Children of prisoners; secondly, it looks at the sources of this stigma; and finally, it makes recommendations on how to respect the situation and rights of Children of prisoners and how to intervene in negative situations, from the perspectives of schools, society, and government respectively. This study offers ideas on how to properly guide Children of prisoners, not only to contribute to the well-being of this group but also to make the rest of society less fearful of violence and maintain social stability.