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

This report presents findings from a review of support needs of families of people in custody. It also includes reflection opportunities with people in custody, families, prison staff and key stakeholders to better understand the issues surrounding families affected by imprisonment.


Footnotes

1 Bella Centre | Scottish Prison Service

Lilias Centre | Scottish Prison Service

2 UN Convention on Rights of a Child (UNCRC) - UNICEF UK

3 Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) - gov.scot

4 The Promise

5 Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014

6 The Vision for Justice in Scotland - gov.scot

7 The 11 PVCs and (providers) are at HMP: Addiewell (Cyrenians); Barlinnie (The Croft); Edinburgh (Barnardos); Glenochil and Stirling (Stirling Interfaith); Grampian (Action for Children); Kilmarnock (Recovery Enterprise Scotland); Low Moss (Early Years Scotland); Perth and Polmont (Crossreach); and Shotts (Getting Better Together).

8 Support Services provide a more limited service in Prisons where a full PVC cannot be accommodated. The three support services and (providers) are at HMP: Dumfries (Summerhill); Greenock (Early Years Scotland); and Inverness (Apex Scotland).

9 Information and Advice on Visiting Scottish Prisons

10 Robertson Trust- Hard Edges Scotland Report

11 Families Outside- National Performance Framework for Prison Visitor's Centres in Scotland

12 Standards of Inspection and Monitoring | HMIPS

13 Publications | HMIPS

14 Whole Family Wellbeing Funding - Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) - gov.scot

15 Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) - gov.scot

16 The Promise

17 Sacro | Paths to Positive Change

18 Scottish Prison Population Statistics 2023-24 - gov.scot

19 Scottish Prison Population Statistics 2023-24 - gov.scot

20 Scottish Prison Population Statistics 2023-24 - gov.scot

21 Our work in prisons | How we can help | Samaritans

22 The 2018 Visitor Survey was carried out in the following way: As visitors arrived at the prison prior to their scheduled visit, they were asked by visits staff if they wished to participate in the survey. Those visitors who agreed to take part were given questionnaires to complete. Each establishment received a quota of questionnaires proportionate to its size and was requested to distribute to visitors over a one-week period in November/December 2018. A 74% (n=812) return rate of those issued was achieved (66% in 2016).

23 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024

24 Although no further evaluations were found, Invisible Walls Wales website states that in 2022 Invisible Walls expanded its remit to start delivering support services in visitor Centres and visiting halls in five public sector prisons in England and Wales, and in G4S prisons. In 2023, Invisible Walls became incorporated as a Community Interest Company invisiblewalls.co.uk

25 Evaluation of Invisible Walls Wales

26 Supporting mothers in prison - Prison Advice and Care Trust

27 Noted on Pact website: Supporting mothers in prison - Prison Advice and Care Trust

28 Partners of Prisoners - POPS provide information and support for offenders' families from the point of arrest through to release and beyond.

29 SPS has recently uplifted the mileage and refreshment allowance of this scheme, and introduced a scheme in November 2024 to support families travelling from Orkney, Shetlands and the Western Isles to visit a loved one in custody (a non-means tested scheme that provides £200.00 twice a year).

Contact

Email: Justice_Analysts@gov.scot

Back to top