Examining the Intergenerational Transmission of Disadvantage: The Effect of Parental Incarceration among Young Adults in the U.S.

Jerrett Jones, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Michael Massoglia, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ellen Dinsmore, University of Wisconsin-Madison

There has been a dramatic increase in incarceration. A growing academic literature has examined the consequences of incarceration for families. However, there is a paucity of quantitative research examining the intergenerational effects of imprisonment on the offspring of formerly incarcerated individuals. This paper uses data the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent (Add Health) to examine the relationship of parental incarceration on young adult’s criminal justice history. Add Health is uniquely suited to study these empirical research questions because it provides a robust set of demographic and social characteristics associated with incarceration. We hope the findings will shed light on the mechanisms through which parental imprisonment impacts young adults as they move through the life course.