When we ask what children need, we must begin with relationships, and particularly those with their parents and close relatives. When their father or mother is imprisoned, a relationship vital for their welfare is broken or strained. Children suffer and express their suffering in their behaviour. They may become anxious, apathetic, ashamed, fearful. The imprisonment of the father or mother of a child, too, affects them and makes it more difficult for them to support their children.
When we begin thinking of children by considering the crucial relationships in their lives, we soon see that the best way to help them is to keep their parents out of prison. In Victoria, however, the number of people in prison increased rapidly before COVID, most markedly of women. The majority of women were caring for children. The increase reflected more inflexible legislation about granting bail. As a result many disadvantaged people who were charged with minor offences were remanded in custody. The increase in remand together with the delays in hearing cases means that many people in prison will later be found not guilty or will receive a non-custodial sentence. They suffer much harm and society receives little gain.
The effect of imprisonment on children and on the people on whom their happiness and lives depend mean that it should be a response of last resort, replaced where possible by alternative non-custodial programs. The Victorian decision to amend the regulation of bail is a welcome move in this direction. Since imprisonment, like many other signs of disadvantage, is clustered in relatively few geographical areas, coordinated services to help people address disadvantage should also be directed to those areas.
Inevitably some people must be detained for their own good and for the protection of society. For the sake of their children, of themselves and of society their environment should encourage connection with their family. The places where they are held should be as normal as possible, have nurseries, playgroups for infants, and programs in which mothers can develop skills in parenting. Men charged with domestic violence should have access to programs that will help them form respectful relationships. All these tasks demand staff trained to interact maturely with vulnerable people. When women are imprisoned the grandparents and carers of their children of will also need special support.
Finally, people who have been in prison are particularly vulnerable when they leave prison. They and their families will need support and accompaniment as they rebuild relationships that may have been broken. Because they may experience rejection and discrimination when they seek accommodation and work, they will need support in these areas, too. Women and Indigenous people, who are far too disproportionately represented in prisons, and who are usually the primary carers for their children, should be offered programs fitted to their gender and culture.
To support the children of prisoners adequately costs effort, time and financial commitments. The children would thrive better if that time, effort and financial support were dedicated to keeping their parents out of prison.
(These reflections are drawn from one of many submissions made by Jesuit Social Services to Government enquiries on current issues. The submissions always focus on the needs of the people, especially young people, whom our Jesuit Social Services staff accompany work and whose experience and needs we understand. CLICK HERE to read this submission.