how are children affected by imprisonment of mothers?
How are children affected by imprisonment of mothers?
The early 21st century has been labelled by some people as an age of mass imprisonment. This has caused concern with many practitioners, policy-makers, politicians and academics. The main concerns about the increase of imprisonment relate to the role of the criminal justice system, the conditions or management of offenders and humanitarian issues. Academics have found that while public discussion is often framed around management issues, there is less public discussion about humanitarian problems. One of the reasons for this is that the humanitarian arguments are often not thought of as a viable rhetoric. In contrast management strategies are effective tools of lobbying (Birkett, 2014; Corcoran, 2010). This article will provide an overview of how children are affected imprisonment of mothers.
It is recognised that there are many gaps in knowledge about specific issues that affect women in prison. According to feminist arguments motherhood has been defined and objectified mainly by men (Gundy, 2013). In relation to women and their children there are complex philosophical and moral dilemmas. The issue of visits can illustrate the complexities. In England, a recent focus group of women in prison highlighted how the distance involved for families meant women received few family visits (Robinson, 2013). This perspective is centred on issues concerning women in prison. For example it is known that prison officers have discretionary powers concerning visits. These discretionary powers mean that women be denied visits as a punitive measure. There has been very little research in this area. A study in a male prison found that although prison officers understood visits by families are part of a rehabilitative process, they claimed it was necessary to balance security issues. The issues prison officers took into account did not relate to the effects of imprisonment for children or families but focused on security issues such as whether drugs and other contraband to be brought into prison (Dixey and Woodall, 2012). In recognition that support is needed for professionals, there are several organisations that represent offenders’ children and families.
Children and families:
The criminal justice system in England is complex and contains many contradictions and paradoxes concerning the implementation of policy, especially for women and children. For example, for pregnant women in prison there are particularly complex and contested social, political or moral issues. Currently debates in England concern the dichotomy between the rights of unborn children and the different rights of pregnant women. This debate can be unproductive due to the moral and political dilemma concerning which of the two (mother or unborn child) is best to protect? If unborn children who appear not to have any legal status are prioritized then pregnant women could have their needs ignored and they become a vessel for carrying the child. On the other hand, the needs of women may not always be in the best interests of an unborn child. What is interesting is once children are born the Convention on the Rights of the Child protects their interests, however while they are unborn there is no specific international legal status for unborn children.
Children and families are affected by the imprisonment of both men and women. The video below highlight how women are within a justice maze. This highlights how women are particularly affected and more community initiatives are needed to support women. This video claims that more than 17,000 children are affected by a mothers imprisonment and can result in problems both for women and children.
