families of prisoners what can i do
TRANSCRIPT
Living in the
ShadowsChildren, families &
imprisonment
Mark Heybourne
Action for Prisoners’ Families
www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk
When he got arrested it caused loads of
fights in the family. People were really
upset with him. Mum didn’t know till
someone told her. I felt upset and I missed
him all the time. But I was ashamed and
didn’t want to tell people. We never got
any information from anyone, where he
was or what was happening.
(15 year old male, father in prison)
‘The police and the Judge have been
so insensitive. I feel like they had no
care about me. I felt I had no-one to
talk to. I only told my two best
friends. The school doesn't know
because I don’t think they will be
sympathetic. Now I am doing my
GCSEs I really wished they knew. ‘
(16 year old female, both parents in
prison)
A 14 yr old girl said
“It makes you feel horrible, like you
have done something too. They
watch you and make you feel guilty
just for being there. They search you
and make you take your shoes off
and you feel stupid and horrible. You
don’t get used to it”.
A 13 yr old boy said “It gets on my
nerves how much there is to go
through. No-one can have any
privacy. You want some space to
yourself. It is dead boring just sitting
there. The chairs are uncomfortable
and there isn’t anything to do. You
just sit there and wait for ages, just to
go in. I don’t know why they have to
make you wait all that time”
“To keep his interest in the family so he doesn’t forgetus, so he doesn’t forget that we exist.
But also to let him know that we care”
(13 year old male, step-father in prison)
“She mustn’t think we don’t love her. She might harm herself again if she thinks we don’t love her”
(15 year old female, mother in prison)
45% of people in prison lose
contact with their families
22% of people who were
married on imprisonment
become separated or divorced
People in prison who are
able to maintain good family
contact are up to SIX times
less likely to re-offend.
Key Facts
• At least 150,000 children experience the imprisonment of a parent each year
• 7% of the child population will experience the imprisonment of a parent during their time in school APF Exploring the needs of Young People with a prisoner in the family (2003)
• 55% of male prisoners are living with a partner before custody – 22% of them are divorced or separated by release
• 66% of women prisoners have dependent children Wedderburn Report: Justice for Women pub PRT (2000)
Key Facts
• 45% of sentenced prisoners say they have lost contact with their family during imprisonment SEU
Report (2002)
• Prisoners are significantly less likely to re-offend if good family relationships are maintained SEU Report
(2002)
• Prison population is rising but number of visits are declining APF/PRT report: Just Visiting?
• No official agency and no information or support routinely offered to children and families
The Current Position
• Lack of information about how many prisoners in
the West Midlands have families All prisoners have families –
parents, siblings, grandparents, as well as partners and children
• Lack of information on number of children in
West Midlands affected by a parent’s
imprisonment
• Lack of national, regional and local strategies for
working with offenders families
