Current statistics state that 2.7 million children in the United States are experiencing parental incarceration right now and 70% of children of prisoners may end up in the prison system.
Silent Victims of Crime (SVC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to empower children of incarcerated parents in South Carolina and Florida by providing educational enrichment, social support, and positive mentoring.
The issue
The problem of parental incarceration is a shockingly pervasive issue. Approximately 15,000 children in Miami, and 2.7 million in the United States, have incarcerated parents. Many of these parents lived with their children before being sent to prison, suggesting that many of them were actively involved in their children’s lives before their incarceration. As such, when a parent is incarcerated, a huge void is left in the children’s lives, and they are left with uncertainty. Although some children and adolescents may recover quickly after adversity, traumatic experiences such as having a parent incarcerated can result in significant disruptions in child or adolescent development, with profound long-term consequences that they can carry into adulthood, such as an increase in the risk of low academic performance, engagement in high-risk behaviors, becoming homeless, dropping out of school, difficulties in peer and family relationships, and perpetuating intergenerational cycles of crime. As if these negative effects were not enough on their own, they are compounded by the social stigma that children of incarcerated parents may experience among their peers or even their teachers at school.
Mission
To assist children of incarcerated parents by improving their economic, educational, and personal stability while empowering these children to make wise choices and contribute positively to society.
Testimonials
SVC works tirelessly to support this underserved group of at-risk youth. Our programs impact the lives of every family member in our program, and that positive impact can be seen in the success of our program attendees. This lasting impact is thanks to the unique and career-oriented activities we develop all year long. We have programs tailored for youth and are proud to include programs for the parents and caregivers of the children, to ensure a smooth transition after incarceration and a well-balanced healthy relationship between all members of the household.
Click here to visit our success stories page for testimonials!
