The influence of family visiting upon boys' behavior in a juvenile correctional institution

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Social Work

Background:

• Parental engagement is vital for children in foster care.
• The impact of parental involvement on behavior in correctional settings is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of parental visiting on the behavior of children in correctional placements.
• To determine if benefits observed in foster care extend to juvenile justice settings.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of behavioral data from children in correctional facilities.
• Correlation study examining frequency of parental visits and behavioral outcomes.

Main Results:

• Parental visiting demonstrated a direct, positive impact on the behavior of children in correctional placements.
• Increased frequency of visits correlated with improved conduct and reduced behavioral issues.

Conclusions:

• Parental visiting is a beneficial intervention for children in juvenile correctional facilities.
• Supporting and facilitating parental contact can improve outcomes for justice-involved youth.