Dr Nancy Loucks The Hidden Sentence: Supporting Families in the CJS South West HMP Kilmarnock 1 September 2011 Think Family! ‘He’s doing the sentence, but I’m paying the price.’

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

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%  %  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 VICTIMS CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAVEL & TRANSPORT EDUCATION CRIME PREVENTION CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE FINANCE & BENEFITS HOUSING PRISONERS’ FAMILIES

Most difficult aspects of imprisonment worry about the prisoner88% separation from the prisoner77% worry about what will happen after release60% cost of travel for visits56% lack of information44% lack of support40%

Most difficult aspects of imprisonment what to tell others38% transportation to the prison38% timing of visits38% financial problems33% worry about the family23% housing23%

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 Paul S., 57 Ruth R., 53 Liza A., 7Lara A., 5 Juan R., 17 Roberto R., 54 Julia S., 75 Jose R., 24 Donna A., 21 Incarcerated Jose S., Lee S., EMPLOYED RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION HIGHSCHOOL GRADUATE TAKES CARE OF CHILDREN IN SCHOOL

Traditional Practice Family-Focused Approach Focuses on the individual leaving jail/prison, or under parole/probation/child welfare supervision Focuses on the support and family connections of the individual leaving jail/prison or under parole/probation/child welfare supervision Driven by individuals’ and families’ risks and needs 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 between families and law enforcement

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!