Promoting Family Ties in the Changing Criminal Justice System Taunton, 7 December 2016

Anne Fox Chief Executive Officer – Clinks Deputy Chair of Review FARMER REVIEW - HOW CAN SUPPORTING MEN IN PRISON TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR FAMILIES REDUCE REOFFENDING? Anne Fox Chief Executive Officer – Clinks Deputy Chair of Review

About the review Commissioned by MOJ and NOMS – in White Paper England and Wales Focus on majority of prison population – i.e. adult male prisons Led by Lord Farmer – Conservative peer – interest in families Clinks providing Secretariat Will report in January 2017

Our focus What support do men in prison and their families need to reduce reoffending rates? What support can be provided to support a reduction in rates of intergenerational offending? Therefore desistance based – recognising importance of family life Inclusive and broad definition of family. Interested also in supporting those without traditional family or strong family connections - Care leavers/care experienced; men without family contact due to offence nature How can family support be a part of prison safety and reform?

Our process – task group Task group at the core POPS, Pact, Clinks, User Voice, NOMS, NPS, contracted prisons Meets regularly Visits prisons Guides on process, evidence to gather Meets with “witnesses” expert on topics – BAME families, safety, technology, care leavers, men who have committed sexual or domestic abuse offences, workforce

Our process – meeting families, men and staff Visiting prisons across the estate Meetings held with men in prison, families , families ornigsaitons, governors and staff Meeting also with thought leaders – HMCIs, leaders of other reviews of relevance, academics

Our process – call for evidence National ad campaign on National Prison Radio with a Freephone facility – based on a feature with an interview with Lord Farmer Surveys for men designed with men in prison Surveys for families designed with family support organisations Written submissions from VCS, professionals and academics

Responses 15 witnesses 79 submissions 465 family surveys covering 43 prisons 431 surveys from men in 39 prisons Over 100 recorded messages from men on National Prison Radio Freephone line

What we’re learning There’s a lot of variation Visits are most important type of family contact Costs of contact are prohibitive for families- visits and phone calls Technology is developing so potential for better use of it Range of support services which men and families value but varies Families can be an asset but prisons face challenges in finding time and ways to make most of this There is real innovation and good interventions There’s a real appetite to get things right

For further information http://www.clinks.org/criminal-justice-supporting-families-prisoners/farmer-review-how-can-supporting-men-prison-engage Results in Spring 2017

Questions Our top three barriers to effective family ties are?... Our top three benefits of supporting families are?... As a service or group what recommendations might we find most useful from this review?