Safeguarding Children and Young People with Parents in Prison – One Minute Guide

Overview

• Statistics: Approximately 193,000 children have a parent in prison, with estimates up to 310,000, with 10,000 children visiting prisons every week.
• Risk: The impact of having a parent in prison can be wide-reaching for a child with potential implications for a child’s residential and care arrangements, mental, emotional and physical health, financial circumstances and educational achievement.

Impact on Children

• Emotional and Mental Health: Increased likelihood of mental health issues, feelings of loss, rejection, and trauma.
• Educational Impact: Poor academic achievement, higher risk of exclusions, and disrupted school attendance.
• Social and Financial Disadvantages: Stigma, bullying, poverty, and financial instability.
• Behavioural Issues: Higher risk of antisocial behaviour and offending.

Recognising Concerns

• Professional Curiosity: Understand children’s perspectives and experiences.
• Information Sharing: Ensure all relevant agencies are aware and support the child appropriately.

Impacts on children and young people.

• Arrest and Custody: Children may witness traumatic events during arrests, leading to feelings of helplessness and anxiety.
• Bail and Court: Stress from bail conditions and court proceedings can affect children’s stability.
• Custody: Emotional, financial, and practical impacts on children and families, including changes in living arrangements and care responsibilities.
• Release: The release of an offender may be a daunting prospect for the wider family and may add wider instability to the household. 

How can we support Children and Young People?

• Awareness: Professionals should understand the unique challenges faced by children with imprisoned parents.
• Honesty: Be open about the parents’ situation in age-appropriate ways.
• Support Networks: Encourage peer support and maintain contact with the imprisoned parent through letters, calls, and visits where safe and appropriate.
• Safeguarding concerns: Be aware of any additional safeguarding concerns that may be impacting the child’s behaviour.

Contact and Risk Assessments

• Multi-Agency Risk Assessments: Determine if contact is in the child’s best interest, involving police, probation officers, NSPCC, and local authority children’s services.
• Monitoring: Regularly review contact decisions and monitor communications to prevent grooming or manipulation.

Key Takeaways

• Child’s Welfare: Prioritise the child’s welfare in all decisions.
• Professional Support: Provide consistent, informed support to mitigate the negative impacts on children with parents in prison.

For further details on supporting children with imprisoned parents and additional resources, refer to the NYSCP practice guidance NYSCP

Page reviewed March 2025