"No one raises their hand when asked if they had a dad at home"
—Larry Logsdon, Director of Individual Care Services, Marion County Adult Detention Center
Larry Logsdon and his staff care for inmates. For some, he’s like the dad they never had. As Director of Individual Care Services at the Marion County Adult Detention Center—the county jail—he’s often part of group activities and has asked for hands to show how many had a father at home, or even just involved in their lives. The number is usually zero.
Almost two decades ago, David Popnoe, a sociology professor from Rutgers University, raised the alarm: "The increasing percentage of children living apart from their natural fathers is an unpredicted, and not widely discussed trend that is a major force increasing rates of juvenile violent crime, depression, teen suicide, substance abuse, and early sexual activity."
Again, that was 20 years ago. The “trend” of not having fathers in the home with their children is now old news, but it seems we still have no answers on how to reverse the trend. Meanwhile, teenage baby mommas, who have no inclination to marry, are accepted as a societal norm. The community at large has thrown out the rules—rules that were there to protect the family unit and its children. You won’t have to look far to see the mountain of evidence regarding the benefits of raising kids in a two-parent home. Can a single mother do it all? Sure, it’s been done. But the job is not easy, and I don’t know one single mother who would disagree. And, no matter how a single mom may try, there is no substitute for a real father/son relationship.
Larry Logsdon has dedicated many years to helping people as they go through the process of incarceration. With ninety percent of inmates under his purview awaiting a trial date to determine their guilt or innocence, their stress can be unimaginable. Among his many responsibilities, he oversees the Chaplaincy, with six chaplains and many volunteers who bring ministerial aid to the 2,400 people they serve. Especially among juveniles who have been waved to adult court, there is stress, depression, and thoughts of suicide. The list never ends, and the care received through Logsdon and his teams literally saves lives.
So, do we really need dads? Let’s see: One study found that 70% of juveniles in state- operated institutions come from single-parent homes. Another reports that 72% of adolescent murderers and 70% of long-term prison inmates come from fatherless homes; and 75% of adolescent patients in substance abuse centers are also from fatherless homes. Is there any good news, you ask? Yes. Children who feel closeness to their father are 80% less likely to spend time in jail.
Clearly, we need dads. But, we have too many fathers who never learned how to be a father because they never had a father; and too many mothers, who do not value themselves enough to require marriage before they have children. The truth is the truth: Mothers should have the support and love of the child's father in the home, and fathers need, not only the warmth of home and family, but also pride in raising his children. There is no greater responsibility on earth.
Jim
