Library

Definitions

Click on the words inside the Dictionary to learn their definitions!

CIP children with incarcerated parents word definitions
Arrested Cell CIP Clerk Commissary Community Caregiver Community Supporter Contact Visit Contraband Convicted Correctional facility, or correctional institution Correctional Officer Court Court Monitor Custody Defendant Evidence Guilty Halfway house Incarcerated Inmate or prisoner Innocent Jail Judge Judicial Marshal (or just “Marshal”) Jury Lawyer or Attorney Non-contact visit Parole Parole Officer Police Officer Prison Probation Probation Officer Reentry Release Sentence Trial and Hearing Victim Advocate Witness

Arrested

A person is stopped by the police, asked questions, and may have to stay at a police department, jail or prison. If the arrested person does have to go to a police department, jail or prison, the stay can be very short or very long. Ask an adult you trust if they know how long the arrested person might have to stay.

Cell

A small room in a prison where a person in prison lives. One or several people may live in that same room.

CIP

This stands for Children with Incarcerated Parents.

Clerk

The Clerk helps the judge to make sure that court processes are followed.

Commissary

Where people can buy food, snacks, toiletries, and other items for sale

Community Caregiver

This is a person who gives care, guidance and support to children with incarcerated parents or loved ones. A Community Caregiver usually lives with the children they provide care for. Some examples of a Community Caregiver are parent, step-parent, guardian, girlfriend or boyfriend of a parent, grandparent, foster parent, or older sibling.

Community Supporter

This is a person who helps children with incarcerated parents or loved ones, and their families but does not live with the children. Some examples of Community Supporters are teachers, neighbors, therapists, counselors, coaches, mentors, social workers, doctors, and school nurses.

Contact Visit

In most prisons in Connecticut, during a contact visit visitors are allowed to briefly touch (hug, shake hands and kiss) the person they are visiting at the beginning and again at the end of their visit. During the visit, the visitors and incarcerated person are allowed to sit across from each other at a table and talk. They are not, however, allowed to touch while sitting at the table during the visit.

Contraband

There are a lot of things that are not allowed inside a prison, like cell phones, toys and cameras. Anything not allowed inside of a prison is called “contraband”. When you go to prison to visit someone, you might be able to bring these items into the waiting area, but not inside the visiting room. Staff at the prison will check to make sure you and others visiting do not accidentally bring something into the visiting room that the prison does not allow.

Convicted

When the court decides that the person arrested for breaking a law or rule did break the law, they have been found “guilty” and are “convicted” of breaking the law.

Correctional facility, or correctional institution

In Connecticut, a correctional facility (sometimes called correctional institution or prison) is a place where an arrested person, and people convicted of a crime, stay. To find out how long your loved one might stay at a correctional facility, correctional institution or prison, ask an adult that you trust.

Correctional Officer

A person that supervises the people staying at a jail, prison or correctional facility. Correctional Officers, sometimes called COs, are also the people that supervise visits at jails, prisons and correctional facilities.

Court

Court is where a judge listens to your family member and other people during a trial or hearing. The judge tries to find out what happened and make a fair decision about what will happen next.

Court Monitor

The Court Monitor sits in the courtroom to record what people say during hearings and trials.

Custody

When police temporarily keep an arrested person at the police department, jail or prison.

Defendant

Is the person who the police say has committed the offense or broken the rule.

Evidence

Information that is presented in Court to help the judge or jury determine whether they believe that the arrested person did break the law, or disobey a rule.

Guilty

When it is decided by the court that the person arrested for breaking a law or rule did break the law, they have been found to be “guilty”.

Halfway house

When some people are released from prison, they move into a halfway house. A halfway house is a home that is away from the prison and in a community. Living in a halfway house can help people that are leaving prison get used to life outside of prison before they return home. Once it is determined that the person living at the halfway house is ready to return home, they are released and allowed to move out.

Incarcerated

When a person has to live in a jail, prison or correctional facility they are “incarcerated”.

Inmate or prisoner

Both words refer to a person that is living at a jail, prison or correctional facility.

Innocent

When it is decided that the person arrested for breaking a law or rule did not break the law, they have been found to be “innocent”.

Jail

The place where an arrested person lives while they wait for their trial if in another state. In Connecticut, there are no jails. A person that has been arrested in Connecticut will stay in prison while they wait for their trial.

Judge

A judge is the person that is in charge of the court and oversees the hearings and trials that happen at court. For some cases, the judge will also decide if the defendant is guilty of committing the offense (or breaking the rule). In other cases, a jury (a group of people) will decide if the defendant is guilty of committing the offense.

Judicial Marshal (or just “Marshal”)

A Judicial Marshal works at the court to make sure that everyone follows the rules of the court while they are there. Judicial Marshals will make sure that no one brings anything into court that is not allowed and they help people that have been arrested and are staying at a prison or jail get to-and-from court safely.

Jury

A jury is a group of adults, called Jurors, who are asked to come to court to decide whether the evidence presented during a trial demonstrates that the arrested person is guilty or innocent. Some cases don’t have Jurys. In those cases, the Judge will decide whether the evidence presented during a trial demonstrates that the arrested person is guilty or innocent.

Lawyer or Attorney

A person who has studied the law and gives advice to clients and assists them in court.

Non-contact visit

A visit in a jail or prison when visitors are not allowed to touch or hug the person that they are visiting. Usually, the visitor and the person they are visiting sit across from each other, separated by glass or a window. They can see each other through the window but not touch each other. Each side of the window has a telephone so the visitor and the person they are visiting can talk to each other on the phone.

Parole

When a person is released from prison but still has to follow some rules and check in with a Parole Officer, they are “on parole”, or “have been paroled”.

Parole Officer

A Parole Officer tries to make sure that the person on parole is following the rules that they have been given and is doing well while not in prison.

Police Officer

A person who works for a police department to make sure that everyone follows the laws, or rules, in that area. If they believe a law or rule has been broken, they ask people questions and look for proof that the law was broken to see if a person broke the law and needs to serve a consequence for it. Sometimes, police officers arrest people that they believe broke a law or rule so that the person can serve their consequence.

Prison

In Connecticut, prison is a place where arrested and convicted people stay if going to prison is part of their consequence for breaking the law, or rule.

Probation

When an arrested person is “on probation”, they are not in prison but do check in with a Probation Officer. Sometimes people are put on probation after an arrest so they don’t have to go to prison. Other times they are put on probation after being released from jail or prison.

Probation Officer

A Probation Officer tries to make sure that the person on probation is doing well and follows the rules given to them.

Reentry

When formerly incarcerated people return to life outside of jail, prison, or a correctional facility.

Release

When someone that has been staying at jail, prison, or a correctional facility is allowed to leave, they are “released”.

Sentence

When it is decided that an arrested person is guilty of breaking a law (they have been convicted), a sentence, or consequence, is given to them. This sentence may include living in a prison for a certain amount of time, paying some money, or having to follow additional rules that a Probation Officer will try to make sure are followed.

Trial and Hearing

These take place at court. They are kind of like meetings where a judge, lawyers, and maybe a jury talk about the arrested person’s situation to decide if they believe the arrested person is innocent or guilty of breaking the law. If it is decided that the arrested person is guilty, than they will be convicted. If it is decided that the arrested person is innocent, than they will be allowed to go home.

Victim Advocate

This is a person who the judge has agreed can support a witness or victim while they are in court.

Witness

Witnesses are people who have knowledge that might help the judge or jury decide if the defendant has broken a law, or rule.

 

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Books

Kids

CIP children with incarcerated parents kids book list 1

Title Author Age Description Purchase
Our Gracie Aunt Jacqueline Woodson Grade K to 4 "Johnson and his sister, Beebee, seem to be all alone in the world. Their mama has gone away many times before, but something tells them that this time she won't be coming back. Then a social worker comes and takes them to meet their Aunt Gracie."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
Nine Candles Maria Testa 4+ years "After visiting his mother in prison on his seventh birthday, Raymond wishes it were his ninth birthday when Mama has promised to be home with his dad and him."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
What is Jail, Mommy? Jackie A Stanglin 4+ years "This book was inspired by a much-loved, five year old whose father has been incarcerated most of her life. One day after visiting with friends who have both devoted parents in the home, this little girl blurted out to her mother in frustration, "What is jail anyway, and why can t Daddy be home with us?" She needed answers! When the truth is withheld from children they tend to blame themselves for others mistakes and short-comings. It is the author s firm belief that it is incumbent on each of us to provide age-appropriate facts to young inquiring minds."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
Empowering Children of Incarcerated Parents Stacey Burgess & Tonia Caselman 7 to 12 years "This book is for counselors, social workers, psychologists and teachers who work with children ages 7-12 who have a parent who is in jail or prison. It is designed so that work can be done individually or in small groups.
Each chapter includes a brief literature review, suggestions for additional supports, discussion questions, fictional letters between a boy and his incarcerated father, activities, and reproducible worksheets."

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CIP children with incarcerated parents kids book list 2

Title Author Age Description Purchase
Waiting for Daddy Jennie Harriman Grade K to 2 "This is a story about a young girl, who wants more than anything to be with her father, but cannot because he is in prison. She discovers many ways to cope with her loss through creative expression, the natural world, and play."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
Sunny Holiday Coleen Paratore Grade 3 to 4 "Fourth-grader Sunny is dealing with a lot in her young life. Her father is in prison, her school is in danger of being shut down, and she is trying to come up with new holidays so that every month has a fun day. "

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
When Dad Was Away Karin Littlewood 5 to 8 years "When Mum tells Milly that Dad has been sent to prison, Milly feels angry and confused. She can't believe her dad won't be at home to read her stories and make her laugh. But soon Mum takes Milly and her brother Sam to visit Dad in prison."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
The Night Dad Went to Jail Melissa Higgins 5 to 8 years "When someone you love goes to jail, you might feel lost, scared, and even mad. What do you do? No matter who your loved one is, this story can help you through the tough times."

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CIP children with incarcerated parents kids book list 3

Title Author Age Description Purchase
Knock, Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me Daniel Beaty 4 to 7 years "This powerful and inspiring book shows the love that an absent parent can leave behind, and the strength that children find in themselves as they grow up and follow their dreams."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
The Same Stuff as Stars Katherine Paterson 10 to 12 years "Her daddy is in jail, and her mother has abandoned Angel and her little brother, Bernie, at their great-grandmother's crumbling Vermont farmhouse...There is one bright spot in Angel's world -- a mysterious stranger who teaches Angel all about the stars and planets and constellations."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
Visiting Day Jacqueline Woodson & James Ransome 6 to 9 years "In this moving picture book from multi-award winning author Jacqueline Woodson, a young girl and her grandmother prepare for a very special day--the one day a month they get to visit the girl's father in prison."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
Kofi's Mom Richard Dyches 3 to 6 years "Kofi's Mom is a story about Kofi whose mother is sent to prison. It explores his feelings of loss and confusion. Through friends at school, Kofi begins to talk about his mom and to look forward to her return."

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CIP children with incarcerated parents kids book list 4

Title Author Age Description Purchase
My Daddy's in Jail Anthony Curcio 5 to 10 years "Written by an ex-con. My Daddy’s in Jail is a story of two bears who have a father in prison. The book is narrated by a very odd cockroach."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart Vera B. Williams 8 to 12 years "Through a pastiche of poems and pictures, Williams (A Chair for My Mother) presents an affecting portrait of two young sisters in a struggling family...Gradually, readers learn about the challenges they face: their mother works long hours, their father is in jail for check forgery, the radiator grows cold in the evenings and there is little food."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
Everyone Makes Mistakes: Living With My Daddy In Jail  Madison Strempek Grade 1 to 6 "Take a heartwarming journey with 10-year-old author, Madison Strempek, as she candidly depicts her life experience of living with her father in jail. Madison’s personal story is not only valuable for kids living with a parent in jail, but also brings great insight to parents, doctors, social workers, psychologists, judges, lawyers, inmates, law enforcement, friends, and family that support children with incarcerated parents."

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Teens

CIP children with incarcerated parents teens book list

Title Author Age Description Purchase
Jakeman Deborah Ellis adolescents "Jake and his sister Shoshona have been under foster care since their single mother was arrested for possession and trafficking three years before. Both have found their own ways to cope: Shoshona has become a bossy mother figure; Jake, who is a budding comic book artist, has created an alter ego named Jakeman."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
Chasing Forgiveness Neal Shusterman 12+ years "Preston Scott was only twelve years old when his father killed his mother...Fast forward: Preston is now fourteen. His father has just been released from jail and is moving near his grandparents’ house, where Preston and his younger brother Tyler have been living."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
Pieces of Why K.L. Going 10+ years "When a shooting happens in [Tia's] neighborhood and she learns the truth about the crime that sent her father to prison years ago, Tia finds she can't sing anymore. The loss prompts her to start asking the people in her community hard questions--questions everyone has always been too afraid to ask."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
An Inmate's Daughter Jan Walker Grade 5 to 8 "On the first day of summer vacation between seventh and eighth grade, Jenna MacDonald does the dumbest thing ever. She jumps from the McNeil Island boat dock into the water to save a little girl from drowning. McNeil Island is a prison in the middle of Puget Sound. It’s where Jenna’s dad lives, and she is there with her mother, brother, and grandparents for a visit."

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CIP children with incarcerated parents books for teen

Title Author Age Description Purchase
What Will Happen to Me Howard Zehr Grade 7+ "What is life like for a child who has a parent in prison? This book brings together photographic portraits of 30 children whose parents are incarcerated, along with their thoughts and reflections, in their own words."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
Secret Saturdays Torrey Maldonado 12+ years "Sean is Justin's best friend - or at least Justin thought he was. But lately Sean has been acting differently...When Justin finally discovers that Sean's been secretly going to visit his father in prison and is dealing with the shame of that, Justin wants to do something to help before his friend spirals further out of control."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
Wish You Were Here: Teens Write about Parents in Prison Autumn Spanne & Nora McCarthy & Laura Longhine 13 to 17 years "Many young people in foster care have a parent in prison. The teens in this booklet describe the emotional impact of that experience, which can help readers open up about their own reactions and emotions."

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Title Author Age Description Purchase
Romar Jones Takes a Hike Jan Walker 13+ years "When his 9th grade language arts teacher tells him to pay attention to the poetry assignment or take a hike, Romar opts for the hike, walks out of Roseburg Oregon High School and embarks on a journey to find his mother. He figures that shouldn't be too hard. She's in prison in Washington."

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Others

CIP children with incarcerated parents book list

Title Author Audience Description Purchase
All Alone in the World: Children of the Incarcerated Neil Bernstein For lawmakers An award-winning journalist's "heart wrenching" (The San Antonio Observer) look at children with parents in prison—a Newsweek "book of the week" and an East Bay Express bestseller.
In this "moving condemnation of the U.S. penal system and its effect on families" (Parents' Press), award-winning journalist Nell Bernstein takes an intimate look at parents and children—over two million of them—torn apart by our current incarceration policy. Described as "meticulously reported and sensitively written" by Salon, the book is "brimming with compelling case studies...and recommendations for change" (Orlando Sentinel); Our Weekly Los Angeles calls it "a must-read for lawmakers as well as for lawbreakers."

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Author Audience Description Purchase
Joyce Dixson-Haskett For Family and professionals "Joyce Dixson killed a man. As she stood in the courtroom and listened to the Judge issue the verdict, bewildered, she thought: "How could my life have come to this?" The next thing she thought was: "What is going to happen to my children?"
Her children were just two children in millions, who are still living with parents in prison. There wasn't much information available on this population when she went to prison. However, Levels of Response to Traumatic Events is a tool that will equip family, lay people and professionals alike in effectively helping and working with children of incarcerated parents."

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Title Author Audience Description Purchase
Parenting From Prison Mr. James M Birney For ncarcerated parent "Parenting From Prison was written for the incarcerated parent who is seeking to establish or grow a quality relationship with their child. Parenting from Prison is a unique experience that requires a parent to adapt their traditional parenting roles and responsibilities, to the prison environment and the limitations that come with it."

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Email us at ctcip@uconn.edu if you know of any books related to parental incarceration that we should add to our list!