APF: Children of prisoners get rough justice say charities

Children of parents who are sent to prison suffer poverty, mental illness and trauma and are largely neglected by the government, say a group of leading prisoners’ families charities.

Responding to a new report from the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation released today, entitled ‘Poverty and Disadvantage Among Prisoners’ Families,’ the charities are calling on government departments to join forces to respond to the plight of 150,000 children a year who they say are being abandoned by the state.

The report highlights the experience of children being cared for by grandparents, mothers and other relatives and friends, and draws attention to issues of poverty, depression, loss of a home, and stigma that affects prisoners’ children. The study sought to identify government programmes to support prisoners’ children and families but found that there was no statutory safety net, and inadequate and short term funding for the voluntary and community organisations to which they turned for help.

The call is being made by Action for Prisoners’ Families, the Prison Advice & Care Trust, Prisoners Families & Friends Service and the Ormiston Children & Families Trust. Speaking on behalf of the charities, Andy Keen-Downs of the Prison Advice & Care Trust said:
“When a child’s mother or father is taken into prison by the state in a civilised society, we ought to expect the government to be concerned with that child’s welfare. Today’s report highlights the consequences of the failure of successive governments to respond adequately. Prisoners’ children and those who care for them are innocent of any crime, yet they still suffer from the consequences of imprisonment. We hope that the government under Gordon Brown will wish to see justice done for prisoners’ children and families.”

Sarah Salmon from Action for Prisoners’ Families said: “Finally - a report that recognises the true cost of imprisonment. These figures prove that the burgeoning prison population is leaving a trail of social devastation in its wake. Behind almost every prison sentence lies a story of broken homes, poverty and ill-health. All too often innocent family members and children are left to cope without adequate support. If the government is serious about tackling social exclusion, it must recognise that a jail term has consequences that reach far beyond the prison gates.”

Notes for editors
1. Action for Prisoners’ Families is the national organisation addressing the needs of prisoners’ families. www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk

2. Ormiston Children and Families Trust (working with the Eastern Region Families Partnership) supports children and young people, especially those most disadvantaged by their life experiences or circumstances. www.ormiston.org

3. The Prison Advice & Care Trust supports prisoners and their families by providing practical services at prisons and in communities. www.prisonadvice.org.uk

4. Prisoners’ Families and Friends Service helps prisoners’ families by providing advice, information and support by phone nationally and throughout the London area at court, through their family centre, and by home visits. www.prisonersfamiliesandfriends.org.uk

5. The report ‘Poverty and disadvantage in prisoners’ families’ is by Rose Smith, Roger Grimshaw, Renee Romeo and Martin Knapp. The full report and summary of findings can be downloaded free of charge from www.jrf.org.uk or the CCJS website www.kcl.ac.uk/ccjs