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

1 - Introduction

Background

The Scottish Government wished to commission research to undertake a comprehensive and robust collation, review and synthesis of available literature evidence on family support needs of people in prison custody.

The aim of the literature review was to inform the development of holistic models of family support for people in prison custody, to overcome barriers to building and maintaining family relationships.

The Scottish Government commissioned The Diffley Partnership and KSO Research to undertake the literature review on its behalf. The review was undertaken from April to October 2024, with a period of report drafting and finalisation thereafter before publication.

The literature review commission was funded through the Scottish Government’s Whole Family Wellbeing Fund.

Literature Review Topics

The review of literature for this study adopted a narrative approach, synthesising main themes extracted from various sources and summarising their findings. This methodological choice ensured a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted issues surrounding families affected by imprisonment. The literature review topics guiding this review were structured to illuminate the dynamics and support needs of these families, as follows:

• Understanding the families of people in custody: Uncovering the characteristics, experiences and challenges faced by families with members in custody.
• Impacts of imprisonment on families: Exploring the psychological, social and economic effects experienced by families when a family member is in custody.
• Support needs of individuals in custody: Identifying the interventions and support mechanisms necessary to sustain familial relationships during periods of imprisonment, and after release.
• Support needs of families: Investigating the specific assistance required by families while their member is in custody, and upon their return to the community.
• Barriers to maintaining family relationships: Identifying the obstacles that hinder the establishment and maintenance of familial ties during and after a family member's imprisonment.
• Approaches and models of family support: Exploring approaches from Scotland and internationally to inform policy and practice.
• Exploring whether the literature aligns with the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund (WFWF) Ten National Principles for Holistic Family Support, providing a benchmark for effective support frameworks.
• Gaps in understanding: Identifying gaps in the existing literature, highlighting and suggesting areas for further research and development of support services in Scotland.

The review integrates findings from academic literature, alongside evidence from the public sector, third sector organisations and agencies that support families and individuals in custody. Primary research was also conducted with a small number of prisoners, visitors and staff at His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) and Young Offenders Institution (YOI) Polmont and HMP Edinburgh, as well as a roundtable with key stakeholders with an interest in supporting families and individuals affected by imprisonment.

This combined evidence critically informed the development of a draft logic model, which serves as an initial strategic framework to develop and guide improvements, and future initiatives and policies aimed at supporting families affected by imprisonment in Scotland. By leveraging insights from diverse sources, this approach ensured that interventions are evidence-based and responsive to the complex needs identified in this comprehensive review.

Report Structure

Chapter two sets out the policy context of the literature review. Chapter three focuses on the methodology.

To respond to the review topics set out above, the subsequent chapters (4-11) synthesise the main findings, uncover emerging sub-themes, and identify gaps in the current evidence base.

Chapter twelve highlights key areas the authors suggest for consideration, to improve support to individuals in custody and their families.