March 14, 2015

Advocates seek program funding for children of inmates

By Michael Tanenbaum
PhillyVoice Staff

Matt Rourke/AP

In this Monday, Feb. 7, 2011 photo, ex-convict Michael Ta'Bon, left, shakes hands from a homemade outdoor jail cell with Shaquille Gurley, 17, in Philadelphia.

Advocates at Pennsylvania's Department of Corrections have asked the state to increase funding for programs that provide mentorship to the children of prison inmates.

The department estimates that 81,000 children in Pennsylvania have an incarcerated parent, Newsworks reports.

"If we want to truly continue to impact and make a difference in our society, we must continue to fund programs that optimize opportunity for success for children of incarcerated parents," the agency's Shirley Moore Smeal said during a hearing before lawmakers.

According to the report, a University of Pittsburgh study noted the success of a mentoring program called Amachi, which reduced the likelihood of criminal behavior by youth participants.

Federal funding for Amachi expired in 2011 and since then has operated with private donations and grants.

The Department of Corrections argues that dedicating more resources to youth mentorship will help break the cycle of incarceration.