Safeguarding children when sentencing parents

Study exploring the lived experience of children whose mothers were in prison at the time of interview. 

Funded by the ESRC and supported by the Prison Reform Trust Transforming Lives programme. The research findings show that the experience of having a mother in prison not only negatively impacts a child’s relationship with their mother, but can affect every area of their life including their education, health, and well being. The knock-on effects of stigmatisation may also lead to social isolation and discrimination. The work highlights the importance of considering child dependents and understanding the profound impact that maternal imprisonment can have on children who themselves have done nothing wrong. 

By Dr Shona Minson has used her research findings to create information resources for all criminal justice professionals involved in adult sentencing decisions, to support sentencers’ understanding of the impacts of maternal imprisonment on children.