Due to the get tough on crime policy, incarceration is heavily relied up, which leads to prison overcrowding. As a result, the number of children of prisoners has dramatically increasing. In spite of the enormous number of children of prisoners, there is no systematic data to collect information on children of inmates. It is estimated that 60 thousand children in South Korea, 160 thousand in England, and 3 million in the U.S.A. have incarcerated parents. Called as forgotten victims or the third victims of crime, the children of prisoners have negative experiences such as depression, anger, low selfesteem, questioning of the criminal justice system and parenting, low academic achievement, delinquency, and crime through their parents' arrest and incarceration. Research reveals that children of prisoners are 2~3 times more likely to commit crimes than other children. Considering children of prisoners as the vulnerable group which needs attention and support, countries such as U.S., Canada, and England have been providing support for children of prisoners. In those countries, in addition to non-government organizations' leading roles, government level efforts have started. In Korea, initiative targeting children and youth of prisoners launched in 2011. Relevant agencies, including Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Administration, Ministry of Women and Family, and Ministry of Education, participated in multi-agency efforts to support children of prisoners. In order to successfully implement this initiative, systematic, specific, and effective strategies and programs need to be developed.
The purpose of this research is to provide children of prisoner with a supporting system that best suits Korean society by analyzing the U.S and England system. In Chapter 1, the current situation of children of prisoners, the purpose of the research and the research method are presented. Chapter 2 provides theoretical perspectives regarding the needs of support for children of prisoners. Three reasons - children's right and protection, long term crime prevention strategy for at-risk youth, and promoting successful prisoner reentry by enhancing family bonds- are discussed for why the government and society need to pay attention to and provide support for children of prisoners. In the chapter 3 and 4, the efforts made by U.S and U.K are reviewed, respectively. Chapter 5 provides policy implications based on experiences of U.S and U.K, including multi-agency efforts, developing guideline for criminal justice personnel aimed at raising awareness of needs of children of prisoners, financial and emotional support for carer of children of prisoners as well as children of prisoners, children-centered visiting environment in prisons, community-based supporting system, school's role in supporting children and so on. The current study, which provides multifaceted and detailed guidelines, is expected to provide useful information for developing and establishing children of prisoners supporting system and policy in Korea.