A new report from the Irish Penal Reform Trust shows how the imprisonment of a parent can have a devastating financial impact on families and in particular on childhood experiences.
It shows that separate to the emotional trauma and stigma, if can lead to severe financial and emotional hardship with many households unable to achieve a minimum standard of living.
The report titled ‘Paying the Price: The Cost and Impact of Imprisonment on Families in Ireland’ was published today with a series of findings and recommendations.
The research included a survey of more than 30 families’ experiences along with detailed interviews on the effects of a primary caregiver being in prison.
It found that families affected by imprisonment experience major losses in household income and rising expenses, increasing the risk of poverty.
It also states that “existing supports” are fragmented and inadequate, leaving families to rely on charities in many cases.
The challenges of maintaining family contact is also highlighted as well as the structural barriers from childcare concerns to housing insecurity.
Imprisonment of a child’s primary carer is recognised as one of the main adverse childhood experiences with long-term impacts on well-being, education and social outcomes.
The most recent estimates from the Irish Penal Reform Trust revealed that over 5,000 children in Ireland have a parent in prison on any given day, affecting more than 10,000 children annually.
With record prison numbers rising again this year, this figure is now likely to be significantly higher.
The recommendations in this report indicate the need for a coordinated national response that is grounded in children’s rights and poverty reduction.
It recommends developing a Child Rights Impact Assessment tool to guide policy and practice across justice, welfare and education systems.
It wants children of imprisoned parents to be recognised as a distinct group needing tailored supports and improved data collection.
The non-governmental organisation is also calling for reform of social welfare eligibility to support single parents and carers affected by imprisonment.
The difficulties around prison visits because of travel costs were also highlighted and the report recommends establishing an Assisted Prison Visits Scheme to support low-income families.
It also advises prioritising non-custodial sentencing where imprisonment would cause serious harm to dependent children.
