Minnesota Model Jail Project
Supporting Children of Incarcerated Parents
Parental incarceration in Minnesota and US
In Minnesota, parental incarceration ranks among the most prevalent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) reported by young people, affecting approximately 1 out of 6 youth according to the 2025 MN Student Survey.
- On a national scale, local county jails house over one-third of the 1.9 million individuals incarcerated across the United States. Furthermore, county jails see upwards of 7.6 million admissions annually, a figure that includes people awaiting trial.
- The impact hits close to home in Minnesota, as roughly two-thirds of adults held in Minnesota jails have minor children. The majority of these parents lived with at least one of their minor children prior to being arrested, and most expressed a strong interest in taking parenting education courses.
- Jails can play a vital role in supporting families affected by the criminal legal system by implementing policies, programs, and resources that take children and families’ needs into consideration, as well as by bridging connections to community-based service networks.
Minnesota Model Jail Practices Learning Community
The Model Jail Practices Learning Community is led by the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Health. The Learning Community is designed to promote and expand services in local jails and communities to support incarcerated people and their minor children. This work is guided by the National Institute of Corrections, Model Practices for Parents in Prisons and Jails: Reducing Barriers to Family Connections (July 2019) (PDF).
The University of Minnesota and Department of Health partner to facilitate this multidisciplinary learning community that engages jail facilities and community partners at the state and local levels to help implement policy, systems, and environmental changes that benefit children of incarcerated parents and their families. Quarterly meeting with local jails and partners to learn best practices and share resources.
Five Focus Areas to Improve the Jail Environment
The primary goals of the Minnesota Model Jail Practices Learning Community are to strengthen bonds between parents and their children, reduce recidivism, improve the well-being of children and families, and enhance overall public safety. The Learning Community builds capacity with local jail facilities and partners by sharing lessons learned and expanding the impact and reach across the state. There are five pillars of activity that guide the learning community efforts:
- Parent education
- Community coalitions and partnerships
- NIC Model Jail Practices
- State agency partnerships
- Staff training
Questions
For additional information, please also see the MN Department of Health page.
Research
Children in Minnesota who experience the incarceration of a parent often face an increased risk for mental health struggles, substance misuse, and academic challenges. Our team has conducted research on a number of these topics:
Resources for Jails
Trainings
Minnesota Model Jail Practices Webinar Series
Led by Dr. Rebecca Shlafer from the University of Minnesota, this instructional online series covers every section of the NIC Model Jail Practices Handbook. Each session offers a concise summary of the chapter topics, practical real-world examples, and an interactive forum for grant participants to ask questions and exchange insights. The recorded broadcasts for each segment are available below for review. You can access the entire webinar series collection.
MNLET Courses for County Jail Staff in Minnesota
The Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association—collaborating with the University of Minnesota’s Department of Pediatrics and the Minnesota Department of Health—has launched a two-part educational program titled Incarcerated Parents and Their Children. This specialized training is designed to give jail administrators and corrections staff a deeper insight into the psychological and developmental toll that parental incarceration takes on youth. These modules are open to all county jail employees across the state via the Minnesota Leadership Education & Training (MNLET) portal.
- Part 1 overview: How Trauma Disrupts Child Development
This module centers on the foundational principles of early childhood growth and explores the ways in which severe adversity and trauma can impact healthy development.
Part 2 overview: Developmental Considerations for Jail Staff and Jail Administrators
This module emphasizes practical strategies and actionable steps that correctional facilities can adopt to create a more welcoming, supportive environment for children and youth visiting their parents.
Strengthening partnerships with child protection webinar
Watch Strengthening Child Protection & County Jails Partnerships to Support Kids of Incarcerated Parents on YouTube. This presentation delivers an introductory look into the Child Protection and Child Welfare framework, examining how these systems overlap and intersect with the criminal justice network. The event was jointly supported by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health's Center for Leadership Education in Maternal & Child Public Health.
Parenting Education
Parenting Inside Out (PIO)
This curriculum is specifically tailored to navigate the distinct challenges and circumstances faced by justice-involved parents.
As an evidence-based framework, Parenting Inside Out (PIO) utilizes a cognitive-behavioral approach to teach parent management skills. The program was developed through a comprehensive six-year partnership bringing together behavioral scientists, policymakers, systemic practitioners, and instructional designers. Both the core content and its educational delivery methods are deeply rooted in proven research and real-world practice.
Circle of Security
For Parents, Foster Parents, and Childcare Providers
Circle of Security International is based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened. Using the COSP™ model, our trained Facilitators work with parents and caregivers to help them to:
- Understand their child’s emotional world by learning to read emotional needs.
- Support their child’s ability to successfully manage emotions.
- Enhance the development of their child’s self esteem.
- Honor the innate wisdom and desire for their child to be secure.
Tools for Action
Safe and Secure, Family-friendly Visiting in Jails and Prisons: A Toolkit for Enhancing Child Visitation Experiences
- This tool was developed by the University of Minnesota in partnership with university extension educators, practitioners, and corrections professionals. This tool is not intended to be prescriptive; instead it should be used to guide conversation with corrections administrators and key stakeholders about opportunities to improve the visiting experience, and reduce stress and confusion for children and families affected by incarceration.
Intake Questionnaire for Jails
Download the Intake Questionnaire for Jails: Parent Screening (PDF)
- This tool was developed in partnership with the University of Minnesota, Wilder Foundation, MDH, and all of the MN Model Jail Practices Learning Community partners including: Carlton County Jail, Ramsey County Correctional Facility, Renville County Jail, Olmsted County Jail, Sherburne County Jail, and Stearns County Jail. Jails are using this intake to identify parents and connect them with resources in the jail and community.