Thousands of children harmed by parental imprisonment
Tom Lloyd
Friday, February 8, 2008
The children's commissioner for Scotland has accused courts of ignoring the wellbeing of children when sentencing their parents.
Kathleen Marshall said children of prisoners are "the forgotten victims of crime" and can suffer bullying, shame, distress, and disruption to their education.
A report published by the commissioner's office, Not Seen. Not Heard. Not Guilty, has estimated that 13,500 children and young people in Scotland are affected by parental imprisonment at any one time.
According to the report courts rarely consider the impact of sentencing on a child. If children are considered it is only in terms of how they can aid their parent's rehabilitation.
It also identified a lack of support for children once a parent has been incarcerated.
Marshall said: "This is not a plea for offenders who should go to prison to be let off the hook, it is a plea for their children to be protected from the very real and often brutal financial, emotional and physical impact of losing a parent."
A report published by the commissioner's office, Not Seen. Not Heard. Not Guilty, has estimated that 13,500 children and young people in Scotland are affected by parental imprisonment at any one time.
According to the report courts rarely consider the impact of sentencing on a child. If children are considered it is only in terms of how they can aid their parent's rehabilitation.
It also identified a lack of support for children once a parent has been incarcerated.
Marshall said: "This is not a plea for offenders who should go to prison to be let off the hook, it is a plea for their children to be protected from the very real and often brutal financial, emotional and physical impact of losing a parent."
