Via our research network we aim to influence positive change in policy and practice in relation to women and families affected by the criminal justice system.

The network’s primary objectives are to facilitate and support staff, students, policy makers, external agencies and the public in addressing issues relating to woman, families and crime. We seek to achieve this via four core areas of activity:1.research and Policy Impact,2.Knowledge transfer (including seminar and conference events), 3. Inter-disciplinary teaching and programme development, 4.Dissemination and publication.

WHY ?

220,000 children are affected every year by parental imprisonment, 20,000 of those when their mother is sent to prison. Imagine as a child watching your parent be arrested, or coming home from school to simply find mummy isn't at home - and won't be for some time - and because of that you now have to move in with a family you don't know - imagine that and you are only 4. Imagine your parent is over 100 miles away in a prison that is so hard to get to and scary to visit, you don't understand why you backpack has to be searched, you didn't do anything wrong, imagine having to take a day off school to visit and tell the school where you are going - imagine that and you are only 11.

Imagine you were a mother imprisoned for stealing nappies and baby milk , you have been separated from your baby for 3 months - it was too far to visit - imagine being released and watching your mum have a closer bond with your baby now than you feel you have ? Imagine being a released mother , trying to instil discipline into your two teenagers, who are angry at you for 'leaving' them, and they say - why should we listen to you ?

We want to be able to fund the attendance of people with lived experience to attend our events - where they will be listened to and valued . One mum , invited to speak at our launch event said;

We plan to host a website , where mothers, fathers and children will be able to go to for support . We intend to host literature , research and contacts where families, practitioners and academics will find vital information that will contribute to positive changes in research and practice . We intend to run a seminar series, which will bring together those affected by and those working in social and criminal justice - we want to break down the barriers between academia, practice and those who really matter most - the women and families. We are passionate about being inclusive, we will be encouraging and enabling the participation of families in all that we do.

We the team, Lucy , Natalie and Isla , are committed researchers, striving to provide the evidence that policy makers require before they will listen or make changes. We hope, by developing this network, to raise the profile of women and families, with the ultimate aim of contributing to the reduction in harmful and most often unnecessary , prison sentences , especially for women .

Women like Michelle, a mother of toddler twins sentenced for a minor benefit fraud who told us;

Or Jade, mother of three, (aged 3,4 and 7), sentenced to nine weeks for shoplifting., and who made the hear breaking decision not to allow her children to visit after their first visit, because she AND her children were so traumatised. She told us;

They all deserve better. Please help us to support academics, practitioners , policies makes and families themselves, in providing a platform for change - one that we truly believe will make a difference.