25 May 2007
Prisoners' families are poverty-stricken and vulnerable to physical and mental health problems, research warned this week.
A study from the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on May 21, cautioned that these associated social problems raised the true cost of imprisonment.
Interviews with prisoners' relatives and an evaluation of services revealed that criminal justice and social welfare policies actively impoverish and disadvantage prisoner families. Children were at particular risk.
Depression rates were found to be at 89%, and families suffered financially as they struggled to find extra childcare, pay for prison visiting, and subsidise prisoners' wellbeing with money or clothing. Agencies established to support prisoners' families were limited in the support they could provide.
Roger Grimshaw, director of research at the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, said: 'Unless there is a real change of policy direction, we have to be worried that the collateral damage of imprisonment will scar families for years to come.'
PFmay2007
