PRISON LIFE FOR MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN

What it's like to experience prison life for mothers with children



What it's like to experience prison life for mothers with children

Introduction

In recent years there has been increasing interest? both within and outside the Prison Service? in imprisoned mothers and their children. This is largely because children whose fathers are in prison remain with their mothers in the family home while the children of female prisoners face considerable disruption. What happens to children when parents are in prison is therefore particularly pertinent for women prisoners. In an attempt to provide an answer the Prison Service has carried out three surveys of mothers in prison - in 1982? 1986 and 1989. They provided information on the number of imprisoned women with children and the arrangements made for the children's care during the period of imprisonment.

Studies by outside researchers have also been relatively rare. One of the most detailed studies? carried out nearly thirty years ago? was limited to one establishment (Gibbs?1971). A more recent study by Richards et al.

(1996) was based on fairly small samples.

THE PRESENT STUDY

This study was undertaken to fill some of these gaps.

For the first time? remanded and civil prisoners as well as sentenced prisoners were included at the (then) twelve prisons for women.

Interviews were conducted by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) over a two-week period during November - December 1994. There were two main stages:

• 'Screening' interviews with 1?766 women prisoners to identify those with children.

• In-depth interviews with those women who were mothers.

The in-depth interviews provided information on:

• the mothers and their children

• opportunities for maintaining contact during imprisonment

• preparation for release and plans for reuniting with children.

THE MOTHERS

Mothers were defined as women who had children aged under 18 and/or were pregnant. Using this definition of the 1?766 women questioned? 1?082 (61%) were mothers (Figure 1) of whom 1?057 (98%) agreed to be interviewed in depth.

Fig: 2

The women prisoners had become mothers at a much younger age than those in the general population.

Over half (55%) were teenagers when their first (or only child) was born compared with a fifth of women in the general population. They were also more likely to be single mothers (27% compared with 8%).

THE CHILDREN Children's ages and living arrangements

The mothers had 2?168 children between them - nearly a third were aged under five (Figure 2). Almost three-quarters were living with their mothers before imprisonment? some with their mothers only.

Fig: 1

Of some significance was the fact that fathers were caring for their children in only nine per cent of cases.

Eight per cent of the children were placed in local authority or foster care (Figure 3).

The children were reported to be experiencing a variety of problems as a result of the separation from their mother. Following imprisonment problems with their children's behaviour were reported by 44% of the mothers and 30% said their children had become withdrawn. (Such problems were more common amongst older children? those who had been separated from their siblings or ...