Question

CNN reporter Jean Casarez goes behind the walls of Sing Sing to talk to inmates who are working to keep their children from following them into prison. The men are contributing to a program sponsored by Creative Corrections Education Foundation that raises scholarship money for children of incarcerated parents. Their hope is to break the cycle of second-generation crime.
The first inmate who speaks in the video relates that he spent the first six months of his life with his mother in a prison nursery program. What does his story of meeting his father suggest?
a. He became violent in self-defense.
b. He tried to become a man, just like the father he idolized.
c. He is in prison because he followed his parents' example.
d. He believes that he too can maintain strong ties to his children.
Question Content AreaWhy has Agrippa Brown been able to maintain a relationship with his son, Najii?
a. He participates in a parenting-skills program.
b. His wife has brought Najii to visit every week.
c. He fought to retain custody of Najii despite his incarceration.
d. He vowed he would not allow Najii to follow his path to prison.
Question Content AreaWhich is not an effect that incarceration of a parent might typically have on children?
a. Prisoners' children might feel a drive to succeed.
b. Prisoners' children might feel shame or humiliation.
c. Prisoners' children might follow their path to prison.
d. Prisoners' children might feel disconnected from an imprisoned parent.
Question Content AreaWhich statement from the video could be used to support the need for programs to help prisoners, both male and female, maintain a relationship with their children?
a. Najii Brown (Agrippa's son) says, "I do plan on going to college."
b. An unnamed man says, "People . . . don't know the process that goes on to get somebody's life turned around."
c. Mrs. Rosalind Brown says, "Just because a parent is incarcerated doesn't necessarily mean a kid's gonna follow down that path, but they need to know what's down that path."
d. Agrippa Brown says, "I think that because of the incarceration you [Najii] feel a disconnect there . . . that I don't understand, but I do."
Question Content AreaThe programs for mothers and children discussed in the chapter are intended to maintain the bond between parent and child. Is this similar to the goal of the program for men covered in the video?
a. Yes; the program teaches incarcerated men how to be better fathers.
b. Yes; the program creates opportunities for children to bond with an incarcerated father.
c. No; the program helps children deal with the shame of having a father in prison.
d. No; the program aims to provide scholarships for children of incarcerated parents.

Answer 1

1. b
2. b
3. a
4. d
5. d

Brief justifications:
- (1) His account of meeting his father conveys idolization and trying to be a man like him.
- (2) The video shows Najii being brought to visit, which helped maintain their relationship.
- (3) Feeling driven to succeed is less a typical negative effect than shame, disconnection, or following the same path.
- (4) Agrippa’s remark about a felt “disconnect” supports the need for programs to help maintain parent–child ties.
- (5) The men’s program described primarily raises scholarships for prisoners’ children, not directly the same bonding goal.