Many inmates come from families with incomes below the Federal poverty level, and incarceration causes the loss of even small incomes. In many cases, families of inmates experience the same emotions as inmates and often encounter a significant lack of social support. Further, separation between incarcerated parents and children frequently occurs at a time when children most need family support. When the family structure is suddenly disrupted through separation, the family's psychological ability to cope is dramatically reduced. Children may react to parental incarceration in one of two ways: (1) acting out behavior, including truancy, aggressiveness, and drug and alcohol use; and (2) acting in behavior, including the tendency to daydream, poor school performance, nightmares, and lack of interest in playing after school. Children of incarcerated parents are at risk of experiencing serious physical and psychological problems. The importance of prison visiting is emphasized to reduce the risk of children becoming the next generation of inmates.