The warning from children's charity Spurgeons follows a government announcement that it plans to build nine new prisons to replace run-down Victorian jails.
Spurgeons has raised concerns that travelling times for families visiting relatives in prison are likely to increase because the existing prisons are based in central urban areas. It fears families could find it harder to reach the new sites by public transport.
An estimated 200,000 children are affected by parental imprisonment each year with research suggesting they are twice as likely to suffer mental health problems as their peers.
Statistics also suggest that around 60 per cent of children affected by parental imprisonment will go on to be convicted themselves in later life.
Frequent visits form an important part of projects designed to mitigate the impact of parental imprisonment on children.
Ross Hendry, chief executive of Spurgeons, said visiting a parent in prison can be a daunting experience for children, that can be made worse when tired after a long journey.
“We want to urge the Ministry of Justice to continue prioritising families and to consider the best interests of children and young people when planning prison reforms,” he said.
“Maintaining family relationships is paramount to the successful rehabilitation of many prisoners.
“Plans for new prisons should include appropriate facilities to welcome children, and should ensure that visits to incarcerated family members are made easier.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “We will close ageing and ineffective Victorian prisons, which fail to give prisoners the chance to redeem themselves, and replace them with new, fit-for-purpose facilities.
“We absolutely agree that strong family ties are an important part of helping prisoners turn away from crime, and we are considering how they can be strengthened as part of our plans for the prison estate.
“More effective rehabilitation will reduce reoffending, cut crime, and improve public safety.”
