Triumph Through Trauma

The incarceration of a parent has an impact on a child's growth, view of authority, and general mental health, as shown by Rai Pineda's experiences growing up with an incarcerated father. Rai discusses the emotional and mental struggles he faced due to his father's multiple incarcerations, shedding light on the psychological effects of having a parent in prison. This article, translating from Rai’s personal experiences will also discuss current research emphasizing the negative impacts on children with incarcerated parents, the ways they cope, and initiatives to improve the justice system and the current effects on many families such as Rai’s.

Rai's childhood was heavily impacted by his father's repeated jail sentences and overall offenses, which caused both emotional and financial problems for the family. According to the article "Incarceration in Fragile Families.", it is demonstrated that children with parents in prison are more likely to struggle with poverty, trauma, and behavioral issues ( Wildeman and Western, p. 158). With his dad gone, Rai had to step up and take care of his younger siblings, acting like a father for them. This new role made him stronger and gave him a strong sense of responsibility. All while coming with its own challenges, this can also be identified as stress that negatively impacts his mental health and overall emotional growth.

 In "The Childhood to Prison Pipeline: Early Childhood Trauma as Reported by a Prison Population", the authors further dissect the enduring impacts of early childhood trauma, particularly connected to the childhood-to-prison pipeline. Children who go through trauma, such as having a parent incarcerated, frequently inherit feelings of insecurity and anxiety. These emotional delays do have a tendency of evolving through a child’s adolescence and additional stages of life. (Stensrud, Gilbride, and Bruinekool, p.196). Additionally, Rai's constant anxiety over phone calls that might bring bad news or even deportation emphasises this issue. His ongoing sense of alertness, a response to his father's incarceration, has become a coping mechanism to navigate the fear of an unforeseen future. Ultimately, this stress can result in various emotional and psychological impacts, ranging from long term anxiety to challenges in establishing relationships, especially with authority figures such as police officers.

Furthermore, Rai’s involvement with the Pentecostal church and his devotion to his spiritual beliefs poses as a coping mechanism. Through such strong beliefs, one can infer that Rai’s beliefs are an inhibited sign of resilience. Discussed in “Children of Incarcerated Parents: A Handbook for Researchers and Practitioners”, the authors emphasize the significance that emotional support networks have on children with incarcerated parents. (Eddy and Poehlmann, p.42) With individuals such as Rai, his strength and willingness to think positively in the face of adversity is connected to his belief in God. Through christianity, Rai has allowed himself to find a sense of purpose and stability; concepts all foreign to him due to the nature of his childhood. His church has been an instrumental part of his upbringing, offering not only emotional support but financial assistance when necessary. Considering the nature of the interview, Rai’s perception and gratitude towards his church can be considered a reflection of the overall respect he has for an environment that has fueled the little security that has stayed consistent in his life. 

Description: Rai Pineda attending the annual Pentecostal Church Speed the light SPYDM Youth Convention

Rai’s experience as a child of an incarcerated parent allowed for the ramifications of psychological and emotional impact as well as learning the importance of routine in his current life. Through Rai’s interview, one is able to address the pressing need for systemic reform in regards to our criminal justice system and the social service initiatives offered to those in similar positions as Rai was once. By prioritizing support systems—including faith-based organizations, mental health services, and financial aid, we are able to work towards an effective future where there may, one day be a reduced incarcerated rate in the U.S.