Films to show impact on children when mothers jailed

A series of films to raise awareness of the potential impact on children when their mother goes to prison is to be launched later this month.

The films, with a focus on Scotland, hope to raise awareness respectively with: 

• sentencers; 
• advocates, defence agents and criminal justice social workers; and
• mothers who are at risk of custody. 

There is also a short film telling of the impact imprisonment had on one woman and her two children.

They follow a similar series produced in 2018 for corresponding audiences in England, which are now an integral part of training for the Judicial Institute, Magistrates Association and probation staff involved in writing court reports. 

It is estimated that 27,000 children in Scotland experience parental imprisonment each year. Only 5% of children remain in the family home when a mother goes to prison. Many women fail to disclose they have children due to a misguided fear of the possible consequences this may have.

The films include interviews with Lady Dorrian, Lord Justice Clerk and chair of the Scottish Sentencing Council; High Court judge Lady Carmichael; Sheriff Susan Craig, depute director, Judicial institute for Scotland; Claire Mitchell QC; defence agent Iain Smith; Julie Kelly, criminal justice social work manager, Renfrewshire Council; and Maria and Ang, two mothers who were imprisoned.

The launch event, on Wednesday 28 April from 5-6.30pm, will feature a screening of two of the films followed by a discussion with those involved. 

For more information please contact Anne Pinkman, community justice consultant and executive producer of the Safeguarding Children films, at annepinkman@outlook.com