26th August 2024
Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) is Ireland’s principal independent non-governmental organisation working for systemic penal reform in Ireland. Our vision is a just, humane Ireland where prison is used as a last resort. We advocate for a progressive criminal justice system that prioritises alternatives to prison, upholds human rights, and champions reintegration. We do this through research, campaigning and changing attitudes.
Imprisonment of a child’s primary caregiver can have an extremely detrimental impact on the child, with parental imprisonment being recognised as one of 10 ‘Adverse Childhood Experiences’ (ACEs) which can have a lasting impact on people into adulthood (IPRT 2021). Previously IPRT estimated that more than 5,000 children had a parent in prison daily with over 10,000 children affected each year. However, with record numbers of people currently in prison, this number is likely to be much higher but concrete data are not available. To bring about positive sustained change for children and families of prisoners, the Action for Children and Families of Prisoners Network was established and in 2022, IPRT recruited a project coordinator to implement a three-year initiative focusing on children and families affected by parental or familial imprisonment.
While IPRT welcomes the inclusion of children of prisoners in Young Ireland: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People in Ireland 2023-2028 as a cohort in need of particular support, further research is necessary to better understand how poverty impacts children, young people and their families when a family member is imprisoned. Child poverty is a complex issue affecting more than 180,000 children and young individuals in Ireland, hindering their ability to achieve their full potential.
When a family member goes to prison, existing financial challenges can escalate or new financial challenges can present with the loss of a wage-earner, changes in housing, reduced availability of childcare and the cost of visiting and supporting a person in prison. However, no comprehensive examination into the relationship between poverty and family imprisonment in Ireland has taken place to date, particularly with a focus on children and families of prisoners and the associated costs of having a family member in prison.
IPRT’s existing body of research "Picking Up the Pieces": The Rights and Needs of Children and Families Affected by Imprisonment (2012), Piecing It Together: Supporting Children and Families with a Family Member in Prison in Ireland (2021) and Maternal Imprisonment in Ireland: A scoping study (2023) all highlight significant gaps in Ireland's efforts and acknowledge the challenges faced by families, especially those from low socio-economic backgrounds, due to the imprisonment of a family member.
IPRT is seeking to commission an expert researcher(s) to conduct mixed-methods research to explore the financial impact on families with children and associated implications where an immediate family member (parent or sibling) is imprisoned.
Queries should be directed to Ashling Tobin, Children and Families Initiative Coordinator at atobin@iprt.ie. Please note that tenders will not be accepted at this email.
Tenders should be submitted by email to tenders@iprt.ie by 12 noon on Monday 23 September at the latest.
We would like to acknowledge the support of our funders for this important research
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Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.