Directory of Resources

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international treaty setting out the rights that children and young people should be entitled to. Those countries that have ratified the treaty (which includes the UK) are bound to it by international law. Article 9 is of particular relevance to children with a parent in prison, as it states that children should only be separated from their parents when it is in the child's best interest. Furthermore, where the state is responsible for...

This report, published under the previous administration, outlined the Government's commitment to "a coherent system to support offenders' children and families". It provided a framework for carrying out this work, detailing the key tasks to be undertaken and responsibilities to be assumed, at different points throughout a family's experience of the criminal justice system. These tasks and responsibilities are assigned to services and agencies such as Local...

This guidance sets out legislative requirements and expectations on a range of services to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, stating that everyone who comes into contact with children has a role to play in safeguarding. The guidance highlights the statutory responsibilities of Local Authorities to undertake needs assessments for individual children. On page 18 it is suggested that the process for assessment, in regard to children in need (under section 17 of the Children Act...

This rehabilitation programme, initiated by the Ministry of Justice, looks to transform the way offenders are managed in the community in order to reduce reoffending. The reforms include statutory supervision in the community for every offender released from custody with the opening of rehabilitation services to a range of providers and the introduction of payment by results for providers. The Ministry of Justice published a consultation on its proposals in early 2013, and since has...

In 2004, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) set out seven pathways in their National Reducing Re-offending Action Plan to provide a framework for working with offenders and providing services in relation to reducing reoffending. One of these pathways was Children and Families, along with Accommodation, Education, Training and Employment, Health, Drugs and Alcohol, Finance, Benefit and Debt, and Attitudes, Thinking and Behaviour. The Children and Families pathway recognises the...

This leaflet, for professionals working in schools, provides information and advice to help better support prisoners' children and their families. It includes information and key facts about the impact of imprisonment on children and discusses some of the emotions children may be feeling. The leaflet also suggests ways that staff and schools can support children; such as creating a supportive community in which children and families can talk about what's happening, liaising with...