Conference Report - The Hidden Sentence

The Hidden Sentence:
Supporting Families in the Criminal Justice System

HMP Kilmarnock, Thursday 1 September 2011

It is estimated that each year in Scotland, 16,500 children are affected by parental imprisonment - more than are affected by a parent’s divorce. Many more children are in families where parents are serving their sentences in the community, an experience also likely to impact on family life.

A growing body of evidence suggests that children affected by parental offending are at significant risk of poorer outcomes in relation to all of the ‘Getting It Right for Every Child’ (GIRFEC) Indicators of Well-being. They are therefore less likely to be Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible and Included. Yet it is no-one’s specific responsibility to identify and support these children. And no single agency or body is responsible for helping them maintain family ties throughout a sentence. We also know that offenders are up to six times less likely to re-offend if strong and appropriate family ties are in place.

South West Scotland Community Justice Authority’s Family Strategy Group welcomed around 75 representatives to a one-day event, focusing on supporting children and families affected by offending from across a varied range of disciplines including:

Local Authorities (children and families, criminal justice, educational services, housing services, early years)
NHS (addiction and health visitor services, public health officers)
The Judiciary (Sheriff)
Scottish Prison Service and Serco (HMP Kilmarnock) including prison chaplaincy
Third Sector agencies including Barnardo’s, Lighthouse Foundation, Families Outside, Circle, Children 1st
The Scottish Government