Created Equal: How incarceration impacts fatherhood

Father’s Day is this Sunday, and while there are many struggles to being a parent, men who have been incarcerated citizens may find it very tough to be a father. There are many challenges for incarcerated parents — and while serving time, the big question stands: How can you still maintain a relationship with your child after being behind bars?

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Advocate and public speaker Tore Price was an incarcerated father himself, sentenced to 10 years in prison and leaving behind his 2-year-old son. Price joined Created Equal to discuss his experience with fatherhood, incarceration and the proposed legislation he advocates for, called the “Second Look” bills in Michigan.

Guest:

Tore Price is a public speaker, educator, advocate for formerly incarcerated people, especially fathers advocating for Michigan House bills 456-460. The proposed legislation would allow an incarcerated individual who has served at least 10 years of their prison sentence the opportunity to petition to their judge for a resentencing, possibly reducing their prison time.

Price believes there should be a comprehensive family reunification program when leaving prison to ensure their parenting skills have not changed, but only make them better moving forward.

“You don’t even have to be in a relationship with a caregiver, but you’re building relationships so that you can co-parent when they come home,” Price said. “That is what needs to happen, and then when you leave, still have those counseling sessions in order, because it is a huge transition from being incarcerated, oppressed — to coming out here and everything is open.”

Listen to Created Equal with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.