MSPs in the Scottish Parliament's justice committee have backed a call from a coalition of charities for new laws to help the children of criminals
The Scottish Parliament has backed a charity coalition’s call for a law change which will see children who have a parent sent to prison automatically undergo an assessment to see what additional support they require.
Ministers of the Scottish Parliament's justice committee voted, on Tuesday, five votes to four in favour of an amendment tabled by Mary Fee MSP to include the assessments in the criminal justice (Scotland) bill.
Charities Barnardo’s Scotland, Families Outside and NSPCC Scotland all campaigned in support of Fee’s amendment, saying there is significant gaps in current provision for this group of children and their families.
They say children who have a parent imprisoned can undergo a traumatic experience and often suffer in silence, unseen and unheard.
Currently an estimated 27,000 children in Scotland have a parent in prison but no robust forms of identification or assessment is in place for this group.
We know there’s still a long way to go, but this is a very important first step
Criminal justice social work reports are not always conducted, and when they are their intention is to establish what the family can do for the offender in terms of reducing reoffending, not what statutory services can do to support the family.
Studies have also shown children of offenders are up to three times more likely to develop mental health issues compared to their peers, and issues faced can include emotional and health related problems, lower results in school and declining relationships with close family.
Martin Crewe, director of Barnardo’s Scotland said: “We welcome the decision of the justice committee, to support the proposal to put child and family impact assessments in cases of parental imprisonment into law.
“We know there’s still a long way to go, but this is a very important first step.
“We will continue to support Mary Fee MSP and any further legislative measures within the criminal justice (Scotland) bill which seek to achieve the support this vulnerable group.
“Barnardo’s Scotland, Families Outside and NSPCC Scotland look forward to working with all parties to develop a policy and legislative framework which ensures that no child suffers because a parent has been imprisoned.”
