AUTUMN
By Autumn Mason
A powerful look at how parental incarceration harms families through the eyes of a mother impacted by it
Autumn is a moving exploration of an often-overlooked fallout of incarceration: its devastating impact on children with parents behind bars. Drawing on filmmaker Autumn Mason’s own experience of incarceration, including interviews with her family and expert insights, Autumn makes a case for the power of familial connection, and the need to explore alternatives to incarceration to keep families intact.
The film sheds light on the trauma of separation experienced by children and primary caregivers, particularly mothers, and underscores the need for community-based alternatives that prioritize healing over punishment.
About the Issue
Since 1980, the incarceration rate for women in the United States has increased by over 500%, driven by the War on Drugs, mandatory minimum sentencing, and other punitive policies. In the United States, the majority of incarcerated women are mothers, with 62% reporting at least one minor child.
Maternal incarceration has profound, long-term effects on children, including increased risk of intergenerational trauma and future justice system contact. Over 5 million children in the U.S. have experienced parental incarceration at some point in their lives,* and children with an incarcerated parent are five times more likely to experience additional adverse childhood experiences.**
This memo calls for policy reforms that prioritize keeping mothers and children together through community-based alternatives to incarceration, expanded visitation rights, and sentencing practices that consider caregiving responsibilities.