Interventions for Children of Incarcerated Parents
When WHYY reported on New Jersey’s new initiative to provide academic support to children of incarcerated parents, the outlet turned to Rutgers–Camden faculty for expertise. The September 4, 2025 article, “New Jersey to provide academic support to children of incarcerated parents” by P. Kenneth Burns, highlighted the perspective of Laura Napolitano, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice. The department is home to the Criminal Justice M.A. program.
Napolitano’s research examines how inequality shapes family life, using cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches. As faculty advisor to the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated, she emphasized that while mentoring can be valuable, it should not rest on the assumption that children are “destined” for prison.
I know it can be stigmatizing to the children of incarcerated parents that there’s become this narrative that the expectation is that they are bad in some way. The pipeline is not really borne out in the research evidence.
Laura Napolitano, Ph.D.
Read the full article on WHYY News: New Jersey to provide academic support to children of incarcerated parents.
Advancing Justice: The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Program
The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice at Rutgers University–Camden equips students with an advanced understanding of criminal justice and public policy principles. The 30-credit program includes core courses in policy analysis, research methods, and data analysis, complemented by electives that allow for specialization. Designed to accommodate both working professionals and traditional students, the program offers classes primarily on weekday evenings. Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in justice-related fields or for further doctoral studies.
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