Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Rigaud Joseph

Abstract

Mass incarceration has been a serious social issue in the United States, affecting directly and indirectly millions of individuals and families, particularly those with minority backgrounds. The generational impact of this social issue is significant. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of individuals on the multigenerational impact of mass incarceration on their families. Using convenience and snowball sampling techniques, this mixed-methods study surveyed residents of Southern California who have been affected by incarceration, either personally or through a family member (n = 63). Descriptive statistics demonstrate that the vast majority of the participants (92.1%) reported a moderate to very high impact of incarceration on themselves and/or their families. In addition, almost a third of the respondents (30.2%) reported a poor to very poor coping level regarding the impact of incarceration. Meanwhile, thematic analysis results reveal the following themes: disastrous impact of multigenerational incarceration, different coping strategies, and a multifaceted approach to address the impact of incarceration. The findings of this study have significant implications for social work theory, research, and practice. These findings also have significant implications for the U.S. criminal justice system.

Keywords: mass incarceration, multigenerational family, mixed-methods research design, thematic analysis, social work, criminal justice system

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