Philippine E-Journals

INMATE’S CHILDREN: THE COLLATERAL VICTIMS OF JUSTICE

Stephen R. Dumaga

 

Abstract:

Every time a crime occurs in our society, the party involved and the community they live in always cry for justice. Whenever the government delivers justice to a certain offense, there is always an unseen sacrificial lamb who is affected. Most often, it is the children of inmates who suffer much once their parent is being delivered to jail. This study was a descriptive-quantitative type of research that intended to determine the effects of incarceration on 32 respondents selected through purposive sampling. The respondents were children of inmates of Cabarroguis District Jail, Quirino. The identified effects were expressed in terms of problems and difficulties that the respondents experienced after their parent went to jail. Due to the sensitivity of the study, a signed informed consent from their parents was obtained. The identity of the respondents were not revealed for confidentiality and protection purposes. The study found that children of inmates were burdened about trauma of separation; family income; parental care; food, health and sanitation; personal drive and skills; school activities; peer interaction; stigma; and other factors like children preferring to stay in computer cafe to play video games, indulging themselves in smoking and drinking intoxicated liquor, and becoming rebellious. Thus, these children need mercy and compassion from the government and other stakeholders for their reformation and development.