Our training and resources

Children affected by parental imprisonment

Support specifically for families is available via the button below, while this page provides resources to help professionals support children and young people and their families.

Support for families

Support for professionals

Key Facts

Taken from the Children Heard and Seen website:

  • Every year, it is estimated that 192,912 children (1 in 15) are separated from a parent by a prison sentence in England and Wales. (Ministry of Justice – 2024)
  • There is no statutory framework to identify and support for children with a parent in prison.
  • There is a strong correlation between parental offending and child offending. (Ministry of Justice – 2025)
  • 25% of children with a parent in prison are at risk of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, eating and sleeping disorders.
  • Parental imprisonment is associated with negative school experiences such as persistent truanting, bullying and failure to achieve in education.
  • Children with a parent in prison are also disproportionately represented among young offenders and the care population.
  • 69% of children we support with a parent in prison do not visit the prison at all.​
  • 80% of families do not disclose to anyone or seek help, and are not known to services.
  • A significant factor for the South West is that there are no prisons in Cornwall, three men’s prisons in Devon, and no women’s prison west of Bristol, meaning prisoners can be sent far away from their children.

Useful guidance and resources

Support for schools

Videos and media

 

If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person in Devon, please make a request for support or report a child safety concern.

 

In an emergency call 999.


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