Impact on offenders family

Question 1

Economic

Answer 1

• Financial strain
• If the offender was employed before prison, the family will lose this source of income, resulting in more pressure on the family
• Partners of prisoners are also often forced to take on more roles for the family which also decreased the family income
• For example, a recent study shows that 70% of families experienced a drop in weekly income following imprisonment

Question 2

Social

Answer 2

• Stigmatisation
• Families are often seen to be “guilty by association” even if they have nothing to do with the crime
• This means that family members are treated negatively by other members of the public
• For example, Alesha MacPhail’s father smashed the windows of a car that was owned by Aaron Campbell’s mother, the man who killed his daughter
• Families can become isolated due to the social stigma of their “association” with the crime

Question 3

Physical

Answer 3

• Physical removal of the offender
• Offenders who previously helped with roles such as raising children, doing housework or looking after the elderly are no longer able to support in this way
• This adds more stress onto the household
• Offenders are also often sent to prisons far away, placing a physical barrier between the family and them
• For example, the Ministry of Justice found that the average prisoner is held around 45 miles from their home
• This creates the feeling that the family is being separated or broken