Briefing Paper: The Impact of Maternal Imprisonment upon a Child's Wellbeing and Their Relationship with Their Mother: Findings from 'Who Cares? Analysing the Place of Children in Maternal Sentencing Decisions in England and Wales', Minson, S (2017), University of Oxford

Direct harms and social consequences: An analysis of the impact of maternal imprisonment on dependent children in England and Wales

“…Their differences (‘them’ and ‘us’) become central to the identity of stigmatized children, and led to discrimination and devaluing of them, such as is seen in the lack of consideration for their rights in adult sentencing decisions (Minson, 2017). This stigmatization perpetuates and increases the differences in social, economic, political and cultural power (Phillips and Gates, 2011: 288–294).…”

“…Literature from the United States and Europe links maternal imprisonment to a variety of negative consequences for children: diminished future outcomes due to disrupted primary attachments in childhood (Dallaire, 2007a); disrupted education (Cho, 2011; Dallaire and Wilson, 2010; Hagan and Foster, 2012); difficulty in following a ‘pro-social’ pathway (Fox and Benson, 2000; Green and Scholes, 2004; Hirschi, 1969); a very high aggregate, in number and range, of worrisome adversities and risk factors (Cunningham and Baker, 2003; Miller, 2014); and care arrangements which may not be in the child’s best interests (Caddle and Crisp, 1997; Poehlmann, 2005); and finally a greater risk of dying before the age of 65 than adults who did not experience maternal imprisonment in childhood (Van De Weijer et al, 2018). Those who care for such children during their mother’s absence are likely to suffer from a number of significant hardships affecting their ability to work, their economic stability, their family dynamics and their health (Minson, 2017; Raikes, 2016).…”

“…This article draws upon data from a study which sought to understand the ways in which maternal imprisonment impacts upon children, as part of an exploration of why the state separation of children from parents follows different procedures in the family courts and the criminal courts of England and Wales (Minson, 2017). When children face separation from their parent as a consequence of state action in the family courts, in proceedings under section 31 of the Children Act 1989 due to abuse or neglect by their parents, their best interests are the ‘paramount consideration’ of the court and they have legal representation.…”

Compulsory separation of women prisoners from their babies following childbirth: Uncertainty, loss and disenfranchised grief

“…Aiello (2019) described how participants took the time to focus on the baby in hospital and how they found ways to intensify bonding and amplify this experience, so that it was cemented into their memory. Carey’s (2019) interviews with women in prison found that stigma was experienced by all participants being separated from their babies and found that the choice of caregiver for their baby was a major factor in their overall experience, one that is limited in the UK prison system due to the lack of choice and separations being organised later on in pregnancy (Abbott, 2018; Baldwin, 2018; Minson, 2017; Sikand, 2017).…”

The health impact on children affected by parental imprisonment

“…Women, who are more likely to be primary carers, tend to receive short sentences for non-violent crimes without consideration of the impact on their children 6. Separation from a mother is particularly traumatic, and children affected often face greater disruption as it is more likely to involve other changes (eg, carer, home and school) 7. Children with imprisoned mothers often reside with grandparents, who may also need practical and financial support 8…”