The harm caused by imprisoning mothers

sir – As mothers look forward to cards, flowers and hugs this Mother’s Day, imagine what it’s like for the thousands of children whose mothers are in prison.

Around 1,800 women in prison are separated from their children on the outside. The pain of that separation will be felt acutely this weekend.

Lots of prison and charity staff and volunteers will pitch in to support prison visits, to bring children together with their mothers – a practical solution at a difficult time of year, helping to keep families together.

Strong relationships are a bridge for people leaving prison, providing support and vital stability on release, which significantly reduces the likelihood of reoffending.

But it’s time we stop doing more of the same, as current policies are not working. The number of women locked up is double what it was 30 years ago, and the Government plans to build 500 additional prison places for women. Most women are serving short sentences for non-violent crime and suffer from mental health problems. Many have been the victims of domestic abuse.

Imprisoning mothers leaves a trail of chaos, often harming the life chances of innocent children. Wherever possible, women must stay in their communities, with access to programmes to tackle the root causes of their crime.

This is a better way of reducing crime and reoffending while keeping families together – and is certainly more effective than a short prison sentence.

Nina Champion

Director, Criminal Justice Alliance

Ellen Green

Deputy CEO, Prison Advice and Care Trust

Sonya Ruparel

CEO, Women in Prison