The study found that the punitive and high-stress environment of juvenile prisons contributes to young fathers' disengagement from their children and from the mothers of their children. The structure and intent of the prison environment is not determined by inmates' needs or their family concerns, but rather by public insistence that prisons punish inmates for their crimes. Given the effects of juvenile prison on young fathers and their children and the slim chance that punitive prison conditions will change significantly, this chapter recommends policies that will reduce the number of incarcerated young fathers. This can be done by providing educational and employment opportunities for teens, particularly those living in poor neighborhoods. Another recommended strategy is to reconsider current sentencing guidelines that increase the length of prison sentences for juveniles. For the young fathers currently in prison, parenting classes should be offered in order to help them develop a healthy relationship with their children. Practical skills in basic child care should be emphasized. Prison policies should also encourage inmate fathers to spend time with their children, since study findings show the positive effects of parent-child visitation in prison. Data for this study were obtained from a survey administered to 258 paroled fathers under the jurisdiction of the California Youth Authority (CYA) in Northern California. In depth interviews were conducted with a subset of 20 of the original survey respondents, along with observations at 3 CYA prisons. 15 references