Abstract:
This thesis examines the socio-economic consequences that occur within
families when the father is imprisoned. It does so by presenting insights
gained through interviews with family members, government and nongovernment
officials, and analysis of New Zealand and international
research. The study has identified that families of prisoners are a
marginalised and rejected group with unique needs that are not being
addressed. Rather than attending to the families’ socio-economic
disadvantages, current criminal justice and social welfare policies and
practices serve to deepen and embed inequalities and create negative
outcomes for them. The families would be better served if the current ad
hoc single agency approach to support was replaced by a multi-agency
model with government and non-government organisations working
together to develop and maintain programmes specific to prisoners’ families
in order to improve their life chances.
