Transcript Women in Prison
Think Family!
‘He’s doing the sentence, but I’m paying the price.’
Dr Nancy Loucks The Hidden Sentence: Supporting Families in the CJS South West CJA @ HMP Kilmarnock 1 September 2011
Definitions
A dysfunctional family is any family with more than one person in it.
- Mary Karr, The Liars’ Club (1995)
Why are we here?
Imprisonment is a traumatic experience for families, and its impact is often significant and enduring. Families Outside works to mitigate the effects of imprisonment on children and families - and consequently to reduce the likelihood of reoffending - through support and information for families and for the people who work with them.
Families Outside:
What we do
Families affected by imprisonment and the people who work with them are informed and supported.
Policy and practice reflects the needs of families affected by imprisonment.
Families receive information and support at the earliest possible stage.
Children and young people have age appropriate information to help them understand what has happened.
Families Outside: How we do this
National Scottish independent agency Direct service provision:
Support & Information Helpline
Family Support work Information and materials Targeted work on policy and practice Training and awareness raising, policy development, strategic influence Partnership work Research 9 staff
Quiz!
How many prisons does Scotland have?
15 How many prisoners are currently held in Scottish prisons?
As of Friday 26 August 2011: 8,462
•
8,080 in custody
•
382 on HDC Receptions in 2010/11: 35,930
Quiz!
How many of these are likely to have children?
one-third
half
two-thirds two-thirds
Quiz!
Can you guess to the nearest 1,000 how many visits were booked across the estate in 2009?
333,145 visits 567,901 people What percentage of these visits do you think will not actually take place?
under 5%
under 20%
over 20%?
22%
Quiz!
Can you guess to the nearest 1,000 how many visits were booked across the estate in 2010?
501,993 visits (855,730?) people What percentage of these visits do you think will not actually take place?
Under 10%
10 - 20%
over 20%?
38%
Benefits for resettlement
Reduced risk of reoffending QUIZ!
How much is the risk of reoffending reduced where family contact is maintained? Up to:
3 times
6 times
9 times?
6 times
Benefits of family ties
Reduced risk of reoffending
Improved behaviour in prison
Improved mental health
Family breakdown as risk factor for suicide in custody
Increased likelihood of reunification after release
Quiz!
What proportion of young fathers in prison receive visits from their children?
one-third
one-half
two-thirds one-half What proportion of prisoners lose contact with their families due to their imprisonment?
one-third
one-half
two-thirds one-half
Impact of Imprisonment on Family Ties
43% of sentenced prisoners and 48% of remand prisoners lost contact with their families when they entered prison.
Only about half of prisoners use their minimum entitlement to visits.
Grounds 2009: only 8 of 22 marriages survived, with 11 ending during custody and 3 ending after release
Impact of Imprisonment on Families
Loss of income
Loss of housing
Impact on children
Shame
Victimisation
Cost and logistics of transport
Lack of information
Little involvement in the decisions that affect them
PHYSICAL & MENTAL HEALTH HOUSING FINANCE & BENEFITS VICTIMS CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE PRISONERS’ FAMILIES CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAVEL & TRANSPORT EDUCATION CRIME PREVENTION
Most difficult aspects of imprisonment
worry about the prisoner
separation from the prisoner
worry about what will happen after release
cost of travel for visits
lack of information
lack of support 88% 77% 60% 56% 44% 40%
Most difficult aspects of imprisonment
what to tell others
transportation to the prison
timing of visits
financial problems
worry about the family
housing 38% 38% 38% 33% 23% 23%
Key Pressure Points
Initial arrest
Prison visits
Preparation for release
After release
At the beginning you have so many things going on, you just have to get on with it. Once things have settled, you really begin to feel lost…. It’s difficult to describe…. You know the end is in sight, but it might still be a long while off. You’re stuck between the two; everything gets you down, weighs upon you. And just before release – though this passes more quickly because you’re so wound up about the release – getting things ready at home.
Quiz!
How many children in Scotland have a parent go to prison each year?
16,500 This means that more children each year experience a parent’s imprisonment than a parent’s divorce.
Quiz!
Approximately what proportion of children in Scotland witness their parent’s arrest?
one-fifth
one-third
one-half one-third
Quiz!
Compared to 10% of children in the population in general, what proportion of children with a parent in prison develop significant mental health problems?
10%
20%
30% 30%
Quiz!
How many boys with a convicted parent go on to offend themselves?
17%
38%
65%
86% 65%
Children of Imprisoned Parents
Higher risk of future imprisonment
Higher risk of problems with physical and mental health
Regressive behaviour/grief responses
‘Disenfranchised grief’
… the grief experienced by those who incur a loss that is not, or cannot be, openly acknowledged, publicly mourned or socially supported.
Doka (1999)
Children of Imprisoned Parents
Higher risk of future imprisonment
Higher risk of problems with physical and mental health
Regressive behaviour/grief responses
Multiple care arrangements
What do you tell the children?
Children: Their Experience
No-one explained anything. I knew he was getting kept in, but I didn’t know where.
Daughter (12)
Folk shouted ‘murderer’ at me in the street.
Daughter (15)
Someone should have just asked me what was
wrong (at school) Son (19)
A child’s experience
I want to kill myself. Dad’s been making me take drugs into the prison for my mum. I don’t want to do it any more. I know if I say I’m not doing it he’ll kill me. Mum’s been in prison for six months. I’ve got no friends because my dad’s a junkie and there’s only me and my dad at home. My gran won’t speak to me anymore because dad’s a junkie.
15 year old boy
HDC Home Detention Curfew ICM Integrated Case Management ACT Assessment, Context, Teamwork MAPPA Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements SIDCAAR Self-Inflicted Death in Custody Audit, Analysis and Review SHANARRI Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible, Included
Quiz!
What is the average rate of family participation in ICM case conferences across the SPS?
2%
10%
18%?
2%
Integrated Case Management
Prisoners may not want family there
Purpose of family unclear
Responsibility for invitation
Timing
Lack of explanation
Home Detention Curfew and Extended Home Leave
Lack of recognition of role of family
Risk management
Risk assessment
Family takes on informal ‘policing’ role
Lack of information
When things go wrong….
Getting Families Involved
Prisoner / Family Induction
Integrated Case Management / MAPPA
Act 2 Care
Pre-release meetings
Home Detention Curfew and Home Leave
Children & Family Development Groups
Family Support Groups
I think the message is that all of our governmental systems including Police, Protective Services and Corrections needs to really rethink how it engages and supports families. Again, in a very tough economic time families are there, they don't cost any money, they're 24 hours, and they also have a real cultural connection to the people that we're really working with.
Changing the lens to think about the family as a unit of analysis has really had an impact on the workforce; parole officers, probation officers, correctional staff are all recognising that they don't have to do their job alone; that there's a natural network; very connected, committed and loving that can be tapped to help them do their job…. They should be part of the collaborative team; they count, they're a member and they're not just part of the problem.
Strength-Based Genogram
Roberto R., 54 Juan R., 17 Lee S., 1996
64
Ruth R., 53 Julia S., 75 Jose S., 1982 33 Paul S., 57
Jose R., 24 Liza A., 7
Lara A., 5
Donna A., 21 Incarcerated
EMPLOYED RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION HIGHSCHOOL GRADUATE TAKES CARE OF CHILDREN IN SCHOOL
Traditional Practice Focuses on the individual leaving jail/prison, or under parole/probation/child welfare supervision Driven by individuals’ and families’ risks and needs Family-Focused Approach Focuses on the support and family connections of the individual leaving jail/prison or under parole/probation/child welfare supervision Driven by strengths, assets, and connections of individuals and families Measures individual client’s outcomes Measures outcome of the entire family Responds to truancy and gang-related issues primarily with law enforcement Responds to truancy and gang-related issues with partnerships enforcement between families and law
How do we access families?
Police
Courts
Prisons
Schools
GPs
Self-referral (website, Helpline)
?
Making a difference
Existing legislation and policy:
Additional Support for Learning
Curriculum for Excellence
Equally Well
Getting It Right For Every Child
CJ Family Support Network
SPS: Good Practice Guidance; Core Screen; Prisoner Survey
Child & Family Impact Assessments
Meeting National Outcomes
tackle the significant inequalities in Scottish society (Outcome 7) improve the life chances for children, young people and families at risk (Outcome 8) support Scotland’s communities to live lives safe from crime, disorder and danger (Outcome 9) work to achieve strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others (Outcome 11) assist in the development of policy and practice to ensure that public services are high quality, continually improving, efficient and responsive (Outcome 15)
Conclusions
Imprisonment is a family experience
Clear benefits to maintaining family ties
Need to support families in their own right
Families do not always access the support or opportunities available
Collaboration between statutory and voluntary organisations is essential to address the needs of both prisoners and their families
Think Family!
Thanks!
www.familiesoutside.org.uk