According to new study half of US adults have had close family member jailed

Nearly half of all US adults have had an immediate family member incarcerated at some point in their lives, according to a new study.

Researchers also reported one in seven adults have seen immediate family incarcerated for over a year, with minorities most impacted.

The BBC reports the study by criminal justice non‑profit FWD.us and Cornell University surveyed over 4,000 American adults.

Over 2 million Americans are currently in prison in the US.

The report estimates 64% of US adults have had someone in their family spend at least one night in jail or prison.

The study's authors said it pointed to a nationwide "incarceration crisis".

One in five US adults has had a parent incarcerated, according to the study, resulting in serious financial and emotional consequences.

[Source:BBC News]