A variety of studies have found that incarceration creates a variety of stresses for inmates' families including stigmatization, housing and financial problems, loneliness, role changes, and childrearing difficulties. Such stresses weaken the family system and increase the likelihood that family members, particularly the children, will become social casualties. In addition, weakened or broken family ties have been found to contribute to lower adjustment and higher recidivism after the inmate's release. The meager research into the effects of maternal incarceration suggests that separation from children is a major source of anguish and anxiety for female inmates and that the incarceration may be very detrimental to the children. Despite the large number of female inmates with children, little has been done for this population. Proposals for intervention have emphasized the need for recognition and consideration of the welfare of children at each point in the criminal justice system, as well as greater coordination and integration between the criminal justice system and social services. Specific proposals have included nursery and family units in prisons, conjugal visits, parenting education, family counseling, and furloughs. 2 notes and 41 references.