Today, in the United States, over 5 million children — 7% of the nation’s youth — have seen at least one of their parents incarcerated. These children find themselves six times more likely to enter the prison system, following the footsteps of their parents into a future dimmed by the shadows of jail cells.
This cycle, known as intergenerational incarceration, creates a destructive pattern that devastates families and communities. It presents a daunting problem rooted deep in the fabric of American society, but it is not without hope. The Pitzer Family Education Foundation (PFEF) actively works to break the cycle through the power of education.
A personal mission: Percy H. Pitzer’s legacy
Percy Pitzer’s experience with the criminal justice system began unexpectedly following his military service in Vietnam. A chance conversation led him to apply for a job at a federal prison, marking the start of a career that spanned four decades and culminated in his retirement as a warden in Beaumont, Texas.
Throughout his career, Pitzer was uniquely positioned to observe the cyclical nature of incarceration. “Each time I walked into the prison’s visiting room, I knew I was looking into the faces of the kids who would be our next clients,” he recalls.
Motivated by these observations, Pitzer retired from his work as a warden and founded Creative Corrections, an independent company aimed at auditing prisons to improve their operations. Then, recognizing that real change required addressing the root causes of incarceration, he launched the Pitzer Family Education Foundation (PFEF) with a mission to disrupt the cycle of intergenerational incarceration through education.
Engaging the incarcerated: A surprising resource
To combat the problem of intergenerational incarceration head-on, Pitzer’s foundation targets young adults aged 18 to 27 who either have a parent incarcerated or are on parole themselves. By offering scholarships and financial aid, PFEF opens doors to higher education and vocational training that would otherwise remain closed. Partnerships with institutions like the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Training Academy in Nederland and Lamar State College Port Arthur enable parolees to acquire trade certificates in competitive fields such as welding, electrical, scaffold building, carpentry, core safety, and pipefitting.
One of the most compelling aspects of PFEF’s work is the support it garners from within correctional facilities themselves. Inmates, recognizing the impact of Pitzer’s mission, have collectively donated over $240,000 to the foundation. As they contribute from their meager earnings, they demonstrate their belief in education as a means to secure a better future for their children.
Beyond inmate contributions, Creative Corrections itself has donated $1.4 million to the foundation’s cause. The dual funding streams from inmates and the business founded by Pitzer fuel scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000 and can be renewed for up to four years when funding is available. They cover essential educational expenses, tuition, and books. Best of all, they can offer children a way out and up by fostering employment opportunities, successful career paths, and a critical shift in how children with incarcerated parents view their future.
PFEF believes in education as a means of transformation
Through scholarships, support, and a belief in the potential of each child, PFEF paves the way for a future where education, rather than incarceration, defines the destiny of countless youth. However, PFEF is leveraging the power of education to change more than individual lives. It is transforming entire communities.
Intergenerational incarceration doesn’t affect individual families alone but also their broader community. The absence of parents due to incarceration increases reliance on public assistance, exacerbates socioeconomic inequalities, and perpetuates a cycle of crime and imprisonment that weakens the community’s social fabric.
Breaking this cycle through education leads to safer communities with fewer victims of crime. PFEF’s scholarship recipients are given the tools to resist negative influences and contribute positively to their communities. It’s an investment in human potential that yields vast dividends over time.
PFEF issues a call to action
While PFEF plays a critical role in combating intergenerational incarceration, Pitzer emphasizes that the solution to this complex issue requires broad-based community engagement. Government agencies, private corporations, other foundations, and all of society must join forces to expand education opportunities for the nation’s at-risk youth.
“Incarceration does not solve the problem of crime,” Pitzer observes. “It only carries it forward into the next generation. It is not our government, but our communities that hold the key to addressing the cycle of intergenerational incarceration.”
PFEF’s efforts come at a critical moment as studies increasingly spotlight the inefficacy of incarceration in reducing crime rates. The foundation’s initiative highlights a far more humane and effective approach that addresses the root causes of crime through education and economic opportunity.
“To reduce intergenerational incarceration, we need the community’s help,” Pitzer asserts. “Education, not incarceration, is the answer. With compassion, commitment, and collective action, we can transform individual lives and society as a whole. Visit our website, pfefscholarships.org, for more information.”