1. PrisonerActionNet Conference Families, Friends and Communities: Evidence and policy context Rebecca Endean Director of Analytical Services

2. Overview Introduction – MOJ strategic objectives
Impact of imprisonment on families
Other relationships
Ongoing Research

3. Imprisonment has an impact on all members of the family
Joint DCSF and MOJ review 2007
Children of prisoners are at risk of poorer outcomes
Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (MOJ, 2008)
A fifth of newly sentenced prisoners (excluding those who were homeless) were living with dependent children at the time of imprisonment
Resettlement surveys (Home Office, 2001, 2003, 2004)
Family ties are correlated with positive outcomes in many aspect of resettlement

4. There is some evidence to support the importance of other relationships
Victim Awareness
Restorative justice
Mentoring

5. Where the research gaps are
Rehabilitation
Type and frequency of family contact
Reasons why some offenders don’t have family contact
Effects on re-offending

6. The MOJ is generating evidence to address these research gaps
The Prisoner Cohort Study will explore the frequency and type of family contact across the prison population and the role this plays in resettlement and reducing reoffending
The Community Cohort Study will do similar analysis for offenders on community orders.
Both cohort studies will look at offender histories to examine the nature of relationships and family ties and how these might influence their criminal careers.

7. Timescales and further information
Study
Fieldwork
Expected reporting
SPCR
Preliminary report on the Problems and needs of newly sentenced prisoners - results from a national survey was published in Available at:
A second report due early next year.
OMCCS
First report about participants in the study due in 2011.
Contacts: For more information on
SPCR:
OMCCS: