Some children make up lies about their parents. That's because  their parent is in prison. One girl tells the other kids that her mother works for the government and is away.

Whatever crime their parent commits, the children pay their own price: a parent absent for years, the stigma of a loved one behind bars, having to move in with grandma.

These children are the invisible victims, the collateral damage, the unintended orphans.

State officials say these children will benefit from recent reforms of the criminal justice system, but community advocates say the jury is still out.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Greene County head football coach Darius Robinson, seen here celebrating with his team after a win in October, was relieved of coaching duties after his arrest, the Greene County School District said. (Lance McCurley/Lake Oconee News)

Credit: Lance McCurley/Lake Oconee News

Featured

Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com