Having a loved one in prison brings shame to family members, shame that they must deal with in their everyday lives, just as they must deal with anxiety and internal torment. Approximately 80 percent of all women and 50 percent of all men in prison have children; more than 1.5 million minors have a parent behind bars. The closeness of a child's relationship with a parent does not necessarily determine the severity of incarceration's impact. Children who have little contact with a parent prior to incarceration can be just as upset as those who lose their primary caregiver. Having protective factors in their lives -- community support groups, churches, positive personal relationships, and perception of success and competence in school -- helps children cope better. The article also reviews coping strategies for spouses of offenders and programs to help couples adjust to the return of an incarcerated spouse, and recommends actions for prison administrators and correctional staff when dealing with families of offenders. References