Cross Party Group on Families Affected by Imprisonment
Mary Fee MSP and Dr Nancy Loucks from Families Outside would like to invite you to join a Cross Party Group on Families Affected by Imprisonment.
Figures show that more children in Scotland face a parent’s imprisonment than divorce. The detrimental effects on children and families facing a relative’s imprisonment are there to be seen and more must be done to help all those affected, as families are the invisible victims of imprisonment.
For more information please view below and support motion S4M-00793 in the name of Margaret McDougall.
S4M-00793 Margaret McDougall: Supporting Prisoners’ Families- That the Parliament notes with disappointment that, every year, an estimated 16,500 children in Scotland have parents who are in prison, which is more than those whose parents divorce; further understands that there is evidence indicating that such children are at significant risk of poorer outcomes in relation to the Getting It Right for Every Child indicators, including a greater risk of increased vulnerability, stigmatisation and mental health problems; considers that not enough information is collected on the children of prisoners, but understands that there is a risk that they could be more likely to become offenders themselves; understands that offenders without strong family ties are up to six times more likely to reoffend; is of the view that the transport options for families with low incomes to visit relatives in prison are insufficient and believes that the Scottish Prison Service should offer families a consistent, co-ordinated service and that the Scottish Government should also offer more support; further believes that there are inexpensive solutions that could reduce reoffending rates while offering a proper system of support that would, in turn, increase the wellbeing of offenders’ children, giving a place for families to turn, and believes that such solutions would be of great benefit to communities
Cross-party and cross-committee approaches (justice, health and mental health, substance misuse, education, early years, housing, travel & transport, preventative spending) are essential to address the issues that children and families of prisoners face.
Details of first meeting will be arranged when enough support has been gathered.
To register support contact Families Outside at [email protected] or telephone 0131 557 9800.
Kind Regards
Mary Fee MSP