Children with parents in prison need more support from the Irish state

Around 10,000 children a year experience the imprisonment of a parent.

At the recent launch of a report by the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT), titled Piecing It Together: Supporting Children and Families with a Family Member in Prison in Ireland, it was found that children are forgotten about when it comes to the prison system. Those involved in the study say that the children of inmates of Irish prisons are forgotten victims of the system. When I was a child I had a parent incarcerated and visiting them was always an extremely daunting experience. When you say a prison isn't 'child-friendly' most people would say well of course not it's prison, but they forget that children often have to be at prisons and the experience should be made as calming as possible. Over the years I have see changes made to waiting areas with some toys and food being made available but greater supports for children with incarcerated parents must be made. Speaking at the launch Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon said;

"Children with parents in prison are often the forgotten victims of crime and it is important for me, as ombudsman for children, to remind our State and our society that they need to be supported."

Among the findings in the report it was discovered that there is limited national recognition of the rights of children with a family member in prison and a continued lack of any national support services for these children. It also found that visiting conditions are not child-friendly and that there is limited data and research on, and a stigmatisation of, these children and their families. Covid restrictions have only added to the stress most children go through when a parent is imprisoned, but what supports are there in place to help children through this? While much of the report focused on additional playroom and playground facilities, I think on site counselling supports are equally, if not even more important. I absolutely agree that children are forgotten about when it comes to the prison system and in 2021 it's time that they are put to the forefront and protected.