Here you can find everything associated with our financial impact research. It is our hope that the findings from this research will help key stakeholders such as the Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service recognise and address the financial burdens placed on vulnerable families.

Paying the Price: A Project on the Financial Impact on Families of Imprisonment and Release

The research conducted for this project shows that more families than ever who have a family member in prison are experiencing very serious additional financial penalties. The findings highlighted that the costs associated with supporting someone in prison are high, unnecessarily so. These tend to particularly impact mothers and children, and families deal with this by silently suffering, enduring, and leading a diminished life. Read the full report to learn more.

Paying the Price: Social Media Survey

To help verify the emerging findings with a wider reach of participants, a short online survey was done via social media. The findings of the survey provided a ‘sense-check’ of the financial issues families reported through separate interviews that were conducted.

Paying the Price: Literature Review

The “Paying the Price” project started with a review of the literature over the last decade to set the context and identify the issues it needed to explore. It aimed to identify wider social benefits to improving the accessibility of family contact alongside greater digital connectivity. Literature was added as the work progressed to ensure the information for the project was as current as possible.

Financial Impact Report: In Brief

Our “In Brief” document covers the key points of the “Paying the Price: The Financial Cost to Families of Imprisonment and Release” report. This document gives you an overview of the research conducted and the findings.

Paying the Price: The Cost to Families of Imprisonment and Release Report

Our “Paying the Price” report, funded by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, and written by Dr Briege Nugent, was launched last year. It shows the devastating financial cost to families of supporting someone in prison and after release.

Families Outside Parliamentary Briefing: The Cost to Families of Imprisonment and Release

On Tuesday 7th March, 2023, Members of the Scottish Parliament engaged in a Member’ debate, led by Rona Mackay, SNP MSP, about the cost to families of imprisonment and release. The motion highlighted the findings of the “Paying the Price” research launched by Families Outside, and we were pleased to provide a briefing to prepare Members for the debate.

Financial Impact Process Map

This process map was created to outline where families face barriers and access support in their journey through the criminal justice process. Key stages are highlighted, with the financial implications for each listed. This map helps identify the types of financial challenges families can expect at each stage, and helps alert them and professionals to these challenges, so they can prepare and seek support and information.

Financial Impact one page infographic

This infographic summarises the key findings of our “Paying the Price” report, as well as the context in which the research was rooted. It aims to make the report’s insights into the way in which the imprisonment of a loved one creates, sustains and deepens poverty in children and families affected more accessible and easy to read by providing a visual representation of our research.