Action for Prisoners’ FamiliesWorking together – Maintaining familiy ties.

Sam Hart

1

Every prisoner's and offender’s family should get the support they’d like and need

Provides advice, information and training to members (membership is free)

Provides members with opportunities to network, share experiences, concerns and successes

Listens to prisoners’ families Promotes, develops and supports services and

resources that families need or would like. Lobbies for improved services that affect the well

being of prisoners’ and offenders’ families

Action for Prisoners’ Families

The Context

200,000 children have a parent who is sent to prison each year

More than affected by divorce

2.5 times the number of looked after children

¼ of young male offenders are or about to become fathers

Just 5% of children stay in family home when mother sent to prison

3

Secrecy

“No, [I didn’t tell the teacher] because if I tell that my dad’s in prison then I’ll get told off by my mum.”

“I just tell him Daddy’s at work. It’s the easiest thing for everyone.”

4

Anxiety

“She mustn’t think we don’t love her… if we don’t keep in touch she will think we don’t love her and she will harm herself again.”

“My little boy is terrified they will come and take me away too.”

5

Anger

“He’s just gone. Playing up. Attitude problems and not doing as he is told. It’s on his mind all the time. Even in school he is crying and saying ‘I want my Dad, I miss my Dad.’”

6

Maintaining Relationships

“I haven’t seen my boys for three years. My oldest was 11 when I went in. He’s a young man now.”

“We didn’t talk when we saw him. There were too many other people around. I couldn’t think of anything to say in case someone else was listening.”

7

Practicalities

“It’s a five hour round trip to see him. We have to set off really early and the kids are shattered when we get there.”

“My benefits stopped. I had to start from scratch.”

“You don’t know what’s happening. There’s no information for families.

Who do I ask for help and information.

8

Relief

“Our life is now stable we can have our mates over and not worry about fights and arguments.”

“I manage fine – I’m very good with money. I’m better off now to be honest, though he’d be raging if he heard me say that. We always had less when he was here.”

9

The Effects Children of prisoners 2/3 more likely to have mental

health problems than their peers

Higher levels of depression among adults

Families plunged deeper into poverty

Housing disruption

Hostility from local community/ social isolation

School – truancy, challenging behaviour

Trauma – bed-wetting, withdrawal, eating

2/3 of boys with a dad in prison go on to be offenders themselves

10

Hidden Problem

Hidden problem

No official recording of figures

No one statutory agency with overview of their needs

Lack of joined up support

72% of partners not receiving support (Ormiston Trust)

Pre arrest Arrest

First court appearanceRemand: bail/custody

Trial and Sentence

Custodial/non-custodial

Serving Sentence in custody

Pre-release

Release

ResettlementThe

Offender Journey

12

Offender’s family in community

Offender in Prison

No single agency in charge

No info sharing

No picture of family needs

Failing to Bridge the GapsChildren of Offenders’ Review 2007

13

What can we do?

Display information for families and offenders.

Engage with voluntary sector and statutory services.

Develop children and families pathway involvement.

Involve families in sentence planning where appropriate.

Regular familiy/child parent and adult days.

Encourage contact either by letter /phone and email.

Family/relationship courses for offenders / families.14

Hidden Sentence

Training for practitioners

Raises awareness of the needs of prisoners’ families

Multi agency training

15

More Information

Lesley.Dixon@prisonersfamilies.org.uk

07772246703

www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk