Understanding family support needs of people in prison custody: literature review

11 - Gaps in understanding of family support identified in the literature and suggested research

Introduction

Family support for those affected by imprisonment is a critical area of study, yet the existing literature reviewed reveals significant gaps in understanding that hinder effective support for these families. Addressing these gaps is important for developing comprehensive support systems that meet the diverse needs of families and children impacted by imprisonment. This chapter explores the various gaps identified in the literature reviewed and suggests areas for further research to develop in the longer-term, particularly in the Scottish context.

Gaps Identified and Suggested Research

Needs of Children of Prisoners

One significant gap identified by the literature review is the lack of comprehensive research on the needs of children of prisoners, especially as perceived and communicated by children themselves. Understanding the specific challenges these children face is important for developing targeted interventions that support their emotional, psychological and social wellbeing.

Parents of Adult Prisoners and Sibling Experiences

The literature review also identified a noticeable gap in evidence related to the parents of adult prisoners. The experiences of children and young people with a sibling in custody are also largely unreported in the literature reviewed, leaving a significant gap in understanding their unique challenges. Addressing these gaps is important for providing holistic family support.

Suggested Research: Develop detailed studies on the emotional, educational and social needs of children with a parent(s) in custody that is from the perspective of children to understand the unique experiences of, and challenges faced by, parents of adult prisoners and children and young people with a sibling in custody.

To facilitate this, there is a need to explore innovative ethical approaches to collecting qualitative data from children affected by parental/sibling imprisonment.

Concurrent Family Members in Custody

The experiences of prisoners who have another family member concurrently in custody are not apparent in the existing research reviewed. This lack of information suggests a need for studies that explore the dynamics and support needs of families where multiple members are imprisoned simultaneously. Understanding these dynamics could help to create more effective support strategies.

Suggested Research on Family Dynamics: Develop research on families with multiple members imprisoned simultaneously to develop targeted support.

Minority and Protected Characteristic Groups

Few research studies in the literature reviewed delve into the unique needs of minority or protected characteristic groups. This oversight indicates a need for more inclusive and diverse research approaches that consider the varied experiences and support needs of different family demographics.

Suggested Research: Develop research to investigate the unique challenges faced by minority and protected characteristic groups within the prison system – their experiences and support needs to maintain family relationships.

Remand Phase vs. Post-Sentence Imprisonment

Most empirical research reviewed as part of this research on the children of imprisoned parents, and other family members of prisoners, does not differentiate between the remand phase and imprisonment following a sentence. Understanding the distinct challenges and needs during these different phases is important for providing targeted support.

Suggested Research: Develop future research that aims to distinguish between these phases to develop more nuanced support mechanisms.

Single Prisoners and Ageing Population

There is little research in the literature reviewed into the needs of ‘single’ prisoners and those without families, as well as the ageing prison population and their family support needs. As the prison population ages, understanding their specific needs becomes increasingly important.

Suggested Research: Develop research to investigate how ageing and single prisoners can be better supported, particularly in maintaining social connections and preparing for reintegration.

Release and Transition

Less literature was found on ‘release’ or ‘transitions’ from prison back into the community compared to research focussed on time in custody. The associated family support needs during these transitions are underexplored, despite being a critical period for reintegration and family reunification.

Suggested Research: Develop research focussed on the support systems necessary during the release/transition phase from prison to community, to ensure successful reintegration and reduced recidivism.

Mental Health and Social Support

There was less literature identified regarding the mental health needs or impacts of visits for young people, or how social supports help the mental health of imprisoned young people over time. In Scotland, investigating the mental health outcomes of supportive visits and social connections could inform better practices within the prison system.

Suggested Research to develop on mental health to:

• examine the mental health impacts of prison visits and the role of social support in mitigating negative outcomes
• explore the relationship between visits and self-harm or suicide attempts among prisoners.

Visit Dynamics and Family/Friend Interactions

The impact of virtual or actual visits on misconduct, as well as the specifics of who visits, when and what occurs during these visits were gaps in the evidence reviewed. Additionally, there is a gap in the existing evidence in understanding the rate and frequency of visits to local versus national prisons.

Suggested Research: Research should examine how different visit arrangements impact prisoner behaviour and family wellbeing; given the relatively new roll out of forms of remote contact such as virtual visits, this area requires further research to build on the literature review.

Long-Term Impacts and Effectiveness of Support Models

There is a need for more research on the long-term impacts of imprisonment on families, particularly children. There is also a lack of data on the effectiveness of various support models and programmes, highlighting a need for more inclusive approaches that consider the diverse needs of different family members.

Suggested Research: Develop long-term evaluations of existing family support models and programmes to determine their effectiveness and areas for improvement to guide policy and practice, and share learning and best practice across the prison estate.

Continuing Parenting Needs

Consideration of the continuing parenting needs of mothers and fathers of imprisoned children is very rare in the evidence reviewed. Furthermore, father-child relationships during imprisonment could be explored further, to enhance understanding on how to support these relationships.

Suggested Research to develop on:

• understanding continuing parenting needs during imprisonment and how to support parent-child relationships effectively; and,
• how to maintain and strengthen parent-child relationships during imprisonment to support family unity and child development.

Suggested Areas for Further Research Methods Development in Scotland

The literature review evidence also suggests areas for further research methods development in Scotland, as follows:

1. Profiling of families affected by imprisonment: Develop more reliable methods for identifying and gathering data on children and families of prisoners, including both quantitative and qualitative information. There is a need to improve the data collection processes in Scottish prisons (and among wider justice partners such as Social Work services) to better understand the profiles and needs of families affected by imprisonment. The Data Protection challenges of doing so are highlighted in chapter two.

2. Larger Sample Sizes: Engage larger samples in research to enable the use of advanced statistical techniques and improve the reliability of findings.

3. Focus on Lived Experience: Prioritise research that includes the perspectives of family members and imprisoned individuals to ensure that interventions are relevant and effective.

Other Key Observations

In addition to directly addressing the research topics detailed in chapter one, several observations emerged from the review of literature, offering valuable context to the study of family support for prisoners and their families.

The extensive body of literature on this topic highlights the complexity of family support needs within the criminal justice system. While the focus has predominantly been on qualitative research, these studies often use small sample sizes, which may limit generalisability. However, qualitative methods provide critical insights into personal experiences, capturing the nuanced challenges faced by individuals in custody, their families and prison staff.

A significant portion of the research emphasises the needs of female prisoners and mothers. This focus reflects their unique challenges, such as caregiving responsibilities, which differ from those of male prisoners. Yet, this concentration may inadvertently neglect the needs of male prisoners and fathers, signalling a potential gap in the literature. Similarly, some studies, particularly from third-sector publications, underscore the distinct needs of different family members. For example, children with imprisoned parents often require tailored support services that differ from those for young people in general.

The literature reviewed also identifies systemic barriers to maintaining family relationships, such as logistical challenges, restrictive visitation policies and unwelcoming prison environments. These barriers can hinder meaningful interactions, which are vital for fostering strong family ties. Additionally, research explores the dual consequences of family contact. While it can offer emotional support and reduce recidivism, family visits may also trigger disruptive behaviours, highlighting the need for balanced and mindful approaches.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant shifts in how families connect, with a rise in remote and virtual communication methods. This period underscored the importance of flexibility in maintaining contact and the potential of alternative methods to complement traditional in-person visits.

Finally, there has been a noticeable increase in research on family support for prisoners over the last decade, reflecting growing recognition of the importance of this issue. These findings underline the need for comprehensive, inclusive and adaptable approaches to family support and for continued research to address remaining gaps and refine support strategies.

Summary

Addressing the gaps in understanding family support for those affected by imprisonment is important for developing effective and comprehensive support systems. The identified gaps highlight areas where further research could be considered in the longer-term. By focussing on these areas, researchers and policymakers could create more effective support mechanisms that cater to the diverse needs of families impacted by imprisonment, ultimately potentially leading to better outcomes for individuals in custody and their families.