The Socio-Economic Impact on Families with Fathers in Prison

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.