When people go to prison, they lose certain rights and privileges, but what happens to their children? The number of children whose parents are incarcerated has increased dramatically over the last decade. In Washington, more than 21,000 children have a parent in state prison. These children often have poor social and academic skills and are at a higher risk than their peers for delinquency, depression, drug abuse, teen pregnancy and eventual incarceration. On KUOW – we get a look inside the life of a Washington inmate, and find out what a child experiences… When a Parent Calls Collect.

(EPISODE 1 - NOVEMBER 17th, 2005) Prison is the last place you might expect a man to learn parenting skills, but that’s what’s happening for some inmates at the McNeil Island Corrections Center. This is the story of one inmate who learned to develop his nurturing side in an unlikely place. Parenting behind bars - in part one of our series When A Parent Calls Collect.

(Photo: Fathers make crafts for their children at McNeil Island Corrections Center. Click photo for larger image.)

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(EPISODE 2 - NOVEMBER 18th, 2005) James wants his children to know how he ended up in prison, so they won’t make the same mistakes. Though he’s behind bars, James still believes he plays an important role in his teenage daughter’s life. Breaking the cycle - in part two of our series When a Parent Calls Collect.

(Photo: McNeil Island inmate James Chambers and daughter Kassie. Click photo for larger image.)

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