Children of prisoners - maintaining family ties

Literature review - overview

This overview does not cover every aspect of literature available. For example it does not deal specifically with issues facing young offenders. It is designed to offer a general overview of the topic, and to highlight the main issues.

Firstly, the research on the effects of parental imprisonment on children is explored. This is followed by a review of literature from the UK, North America, Australasia and Europe that focuses upon:

• the lack of and gaps in provision for children affected by parental imprisonment
• the need for a more central and systematic response from government and organisations with responsibility in this field
• examples of interventions and models that have been used in working with children and families of prisoners.

Overview sections

1. The effects of parental imprisonment on children
2. Parental imprisonment as a risk factor for adverse child outcomes
3. Does parental imprisonment have a causal effect on children?
4. Theories about the effects of parental imprisonment on children
5. Parent–child separation
6. Economic strain
7. Strained parenting
8. Stigma
9. Different effects of parental imprisonment on different children
10. Provision for children affected by parental imprisonment
11. The voluntary sector
12. Women
13. Black and minority ethnic families