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As a matter of public order, parenthood must serve the interests of the minor. Even in prison, parents may not divest themselvs of their authority. If, under existing legal provisions, no text provides ipso facto for modification in the exercise of parental authority due to imprisonment, in reality, parenthood is clearly impacted by a parent being detained. On the basis of multidisciplinary research (law and psychology) conducted in France in three penal institutions, the quantitative and qualitative data derived from the questionnaires and focus-groups enable the author to study the shortcomings between the common principles issued from the rules of parental authority and practical implementation through the prism of incarceration. The results show that detention may lead to situations that in most cases weaken efficacy in the exercise of parental rights and duties.