Many children each year experience a parent or carer who is in the criminal justice system, this is a unsettling time for families. Nottinghamshire County Council's Early Help System offers support and information to help both families, and professionals working with a family, where a parent or carer has gone into or is coming out of the criminal justice system.
We want all children in Nottinghamshire to have access to the right support at the right time to give them the best life chances.
On this page
- Kyra's story
- Why do we have this support?
- What is the offer?
- Who can access the offer?
- Practitioner information
- Further information and support
Kyra's Story
Learn from Kyra how having a parent in the criminal justice system affects her and many thousands of other children and young people across the UK, in this 5-minute YouTube video from the Prisoner Advice and Care Trust (PACT).
Why do we have this support?
Having a parent or carer in the criminal justice system can be tough and it can often leave a family feeling isolated. When someone within a household goes into the criminal justice system this can bring additional stress on the family and things may change at home.
It is estimated that over 300,000 children a year have a parent in the criminal justice system. 65% of boys with a parent in the criminal justice system go on to commit an offence. 25% of children with a parent in the criminal justice system are at risk of mental health problems, including anxiety and depression and struggle to regulate their emotions and behaviour.
The Early Help System:
- support families to reduce the impact of having a parent in the criminal justice system by offering a tailored package of support depending on what they want and need and working with the families to achieve their/your goals.
- support families to feel stronger and able to manage the changes that they are experiencing of either a parent entering a the criminal justice system or coming out of the the criminal justice system following their sentence.
- help young people whose parent/carer is in the criminal justice system to have the best possible life chances.
The family may have been the only constant for the person who has been in the criminal justice system throughout their sentence.
When a parent or carer goes into the criminal justice system this can often be a chaotic and traumatic time for a family. The relationships within the household are likely to be affected. This may have an impact on how the remaining adult’s parental role or how the young people within the home behave. Young people within the home may struggle at school and may find it hard to know what they are thinking and feeling.
Learn about the impact imprisonment can have on a prisoners' family in this 28 minute YouTube video created by The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT)
When a parent or carer is released from the criminal justice system after their sentence this is another unsettling times for a family. Whilst there is often joy that they will be returning to the family setting, there is a period of adjustment needed. Once again there will need to be a change in the roles within the family.
There may be some conflict and tension when the person is released from the criminal justice system between the adults that were not in the criminal justice system who have had to take on emotional and financial roles. Families may also experience some difficulties in re-establishing boundaries with the children due to one parent/carer having been absent for a period of time.
Learn about the impact on children and the family on the release of a family member from the criminal justice system in this 9-minute YouTube video from the Social Care Institute for Excellence.
What is the offer?
Support that can be offered through the Early Help System
Supporting children and young people with their emotions in relation to their parent or carer being involved within the criminal justice system. This can include if they have witnessed an arrest, preparing for an upcoming visit to prison as well as preparing for the release of a family member from prison. It can also include dealing with the emotions of the stigma associated with having a family member involved in the criminal justice system and the impact this has on them.
Other ways that our early help services can support you include:
- Improving how your family functions, routines and boundaries
- Helping young people to maintain good emotional health and deal positively with emotions
- Support children to ensure they are getting their education and support any issues in school
- Parenting a child or young person with risk taking behaviours
- Reducing violence and conflict between a child or young person and their parent
- Reducing conflict between parents that live together or separately
- Parenting a child or young person with Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Parenting a teenager
- Staying safe online
- Family Mediation or Solution focused family meetings
Support that can be offered through Family Hubs
Family Hub Volunteers offer one-to-one or group support with:
- BABES breastfeeding support group
- Under Ones group
- Stay and Play group for under fives
Qualified Family Hub workers also offer one-to-one or group support with:
- preparing for a baby
- children’s development, including listening and communication
- playing with your child
- the emotional health of you or your child
- children’s behaviour
- feeding your child
- increasing your confidence to help you get a job
- domestic abuse (in partnership with Women’s Aid services)
Who can access the offer?
Any family with a parent or carer who has gone into or is being released from the criminal justice system can contact the Early Help unit on 0115 8041248 or early.help@nottscc.gov.uk (opens in new tab)
A person who is in the criminal justice system due to be released through their work coaches (with their families consent)
Any service that are working with a family where a parent or carer has gone into the criminal justice system and the family want support
Schools who have pupils with a parent or carer in the criminal justice system where the family are wanting support
Family Hub Networks provide a range of services for parents to be and families with children up to 19 years old.
Contact your local Family Hub team
Practitioner information
If you are working with a family where a parent or carer has been involved in the criminal justice system or has gone into custody, or is due to be released, you may feel that further support is needed. This may be in order to reduce tension, improve communication, support parenting, or just for the young people to have some support with their emotional wellbeing throughout a difficult transition period within the family dynamic.
Some of our workers have all received Hidden Sentence training, so have an awareness of:
- the issues that affect children and families where a family member is in the criminal justice system
- how the current criminal justice system works.
- the journey of an offender
- the impact imprisonment has on family members and how it influences society
- specific issues for children with family members in the criminal justice system
- statutory/voluntary support that can be provided for children and families through
Download the Supporting families impacted by the criminal justice system flyer [PDF]
How to refer:
Any family with a parent who has gone into or is being released from the criminal justice system can access support through the Early Help Unit, contact your Early Help Advisor, or through the local Family Hub. Referrals can be made by professionals through the Early Help Online referral form (Nottinghamshire County Council) or by contacting the Family Hub direct.
Further information and support
Children Heard and Seen
Children Heard and Seen is a charity dedicated to helping children, young people, and families affected by parental imprisonment. Self-referrals only.
Learn about what Children Heard and Seen do to support children impacted by parental imprisonment in this 2-minute YouTube video
You can also download an information leaflet from Children Heard and Seen about when and how to tell children about their parent's imprisonment.
Download If, what, why, when and how it is important to tell children about their parent's imprisonment [PDF]
Find out more on the Children Heard and Seen website
7 top tips to support a child with a parent or loved one in the criminal justice system
- Talk. Tell key people in your child's life what is happening.
- Listen to the child. But don’t force them to talk if they don’t want to. Just reassure them that you are there for them.
- Expect changes to the child's behaviour. Comfort them and talk to them about how they're feeling.
- Share your own feelings. Talk to them, in an age-appropriate way, about how you’re feeling. Let them know that it’s OK to feel different emotions.
- Take some time to tell your child what prison is like. They might have only seen it on TV or in cartoons.
- Offer them someone else to talk to. Sometimes they might prefer to speak to a relative, friend, counsellor or teacher rather than you. Let them know this is OK and who they can speak to.
- Reassure them. Let them know they can ask questions and it’s OK to talk about it. Let them know they are not to blame – children often think they are. Reassure them their parent is safe and that they’ll be able to talk to or see them.
Source: Help for prisoners' familes (Spurgeons)
More sources of information and support
- Prisoner Advice and Care Trust (PACT) - a charity that supports prisoner, people with convictions and their families.
- Prisoners' Families Helpline - offers free, confidential support and advice for families with a loved one in contact with the criminal justice system. Freephone telephone number 0808 808 2003 available Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm and weekends 10am to 3pm.
- Barnardo's
- Parents in Prison (Childline)
Further help on the Notts Help Yourself website
- Relationships Really Matter - helping parents manage everyday disagreements in a more positive and healthy way
- Work and Volunteering service listings