Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-29T19:26:20.610Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Responding to Children of Prisoners: The Views of Education Professionals in Victoria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2015

Rose McCrickard  and
Catherine Flynn
Rose McCrickard
Affiliation:
Social Work, Monash University, Caulfield East, Victoria, Australia
Catherine Flynn*
Affiliation:
Social Work, Monash University, Caulfield East, Victoria, Australia
*
address of correspondence: Catherine Flynn, Social Work, Monash University, Caulfield East, Victoria, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper reports on one aspect of data gathered in an Australian Research Council (ARC) funded project which sought to uncover how children are responded to when their parents are arrested and imprisoned. This paper presents initial specific insights into how Victorian schools understand and respond to these children. Due to the limited research previously conducted in this area of study, a flexible and exploratory approach was implemented. Data were obtained from eight Victorian education staff members, from a variety of professional domains, and were analysed using thematic analysis. Results indicate that a school's ability to respond appropriately to this group of students is shaped by the general and specific knowledge of parental imprisonment held by schools. Access to such knowledge is limited, however, by both the stigmatised nature of the problem and the current, fragmented, service system. More optimistically, it seems that when schools have greater awareness, positive responses can be implemented. Implications for this are discussed, with a particular focus on the need for clear channels of communication and collaborative work.

Keywords

ChildrenCriminal justiceEducationParental imprisonmentschool
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 41 , Issue 1 , March 2016 , pp. 39 - 48
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abbott-Chapman, J., Martin, K., Ollington, N., Venn, A., Dwyer, T., & Gall, S. (2014). The longitudinal association of childhood school engagement with adult educational and occupational achievement: Findings from an Australian national study. British Educational Research Journal, 40 (1), 102–120.Google Scholar
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2012). Schools Australia 2012 (No. 4221.0). Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/Latestproducts/4221.0Main%20%Featurers502012.Google Scholar
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2013). Prisoners in Australia, 2013 (No. 4517.0). Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/Lookup/4517.0Main+Features12013?OpenDocument.Google Scholar
Barnardos - i-HOP. (2014). Practice Model: Frome Learning Partnership ‘Children Affected by Parental Imprisonment’ Champions. Retrieved from https://www.i-hop.org.uk/app/answers/detail/a_id/662.Google Scholar
Block, K. J., & Potthast, M. J. (1998). Girl scouts beyond bars: Facilitating parent-child contact in correctional settings. Child Welfare, 77 (5), 561–578.Google Scholar
Boswell, G. (2002). Imprisoned fathers: the children's view. Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 41 (1), 14–26. doi: 10.1111/1468-2311.00222.Google Scholar
Bottrell, D., & Goodwin, S. (2011). Contextualising schools and communities. In Bottrell, D. & Goodwin, S. (Eds.), Schools, communities and social inclusion (pp. 22–37). Melbourne: Palgrave MacMillian.Google Scholar
Braman, D. (2004). Doing time on the outside: Incarceration and family life in Urban America, Michigan: University of Michigan Press.Google Scholar
Braman, D., & Wood, J. (2003). From one generation to the next: how criminal sanctions are reshaping life in urban America. In Travis, J. & Waul, M. (Eds.), Prisoners once removed: The impact of incarceration and re-entry on children, families, and communities (pp. 157–188). Washington, DC: Urban Institute.Google Scholar
Bryman, A. (2012). Social research methods (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Cho, R. M. (2009). Impact of maternal imprisonment on children's probability of grade retention. Journal of Urban Economics, 65 (1), 11–23. doi: 10.1016/j.jue.2008.09. 004.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cho, R. M. (2011). Understanding the mechanism behind maternal imprisonment and adolescent school drop out. Family Relations, 60 (3), 272–289. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2011.00649.x.Google Scholar
Dallaire, D. H. (2007). Incarcerated mothers and fathers: a comparison of risks for children and families. Family Relations, 56 (5), 440–453. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2007.00472.x.Google Scholar
Dallaire, D. H., Ciccone, A., & Wilson, L. (2010). Teachers’ experiences with and expectations of children with incarcerated parents. Journal of Applied Development Psychology, 31 (4), 281–290.Google Scholar
Dalley, L.P. (2002). Policy implications relating to inmate mothers and their children: Will the past be prologue? The Prison Journal, 82 (2), 234–268.Google Scholar
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). (2013). Behaviour Support Plan Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/bullystoppers/Pages/teachplans.aspx.Google Scholar
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). (2014a). Legal Duty of Care. Retrieved from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/bullystoppers/Pages/prinduty.aspx.Google Scholar
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). (2014b). Children's Services Coordination Board. Retrieved from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/structure/pages/coordboard.aspx.Google Scholar
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). (2015). VCAMS Indicators. Retrieved from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/research/Pages/vcamsindicator.aspx.Google Scholar
Edwards, O. W., & Shillingford, M. A. (2008). Professional school counselors using choice theory to meet the needs of children of prisoners. Professional School Counseling, 12 (1). Retrieved from www.schoolcounselor.org/conten.asp?contentid=235.Google Scholar
Edwards, O. W., & Sweeney, A. E. (2007). Theory-based interventions for school children cared for by their grandparents. Educational Psychology in Practice, 23 (2), 177–190.Google Scholar
Flat Out Inc. & Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (VACRO). (2006). Children: Unintended Victims of Legal Process – a Review of policies and legislation affecting children with incarcerated Parents (Discussion Paper). Retrieved from www.flatout.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Discussion_Paper_Hannon.pdf.Google Scholar
Flynn, C. (2008). Waiting for mum: The impact of maternal incarceration on adolescent children (Doctoral dissertation). Monash University, Melbourne, The Victoria, Australia.Google Scholar
Flynn, C., Bartlett, T., Fernandez Arias, P., Burgess, A., & Evans, P. (2015). Caring for children when their parents are incarcerated: comparing the responses of Victoria and NSW, Law in Context, 32, 4–27.Google Scholar
Friedman, S., & Esselstyn, T. C., (1965). The adjustment of children of jail inmates. Federal Probation, 29 (4), 55–59.Google Scholar
Gabel, K., & Johnson, D. (1995). Incarcerated parents. In Gabel, K. & Johnston, D. (Eds.), Children of incarcerated parents. Maryland: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Gaudin, J. M., & Sutphen, R. (1993). Foster care vs. extended family care for children of incarcerated mothers. Journal of Offenders Rehabilitation, 19 (3–4), 129–147.Google Scholar
Gloucestershire County Council. (2010). Reviewed Policy for the Education of Children with a Parent or Close Relative in Prison or at Risk of a Custodial Sentence. Retrieved from http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schoolsnet/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=35488&p=0.Google Scholar
Hagan, J. (1996). The Next Generation: Children of prisoners. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.518.8663&rep=rep1&type=pdf.Google Scholar
Hennink, M. (2007). International focus group research: A handbook for the health and social sciences. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Huebner, B. M., & Gustafson, R. (2007). The effect of maternal incarceration on adult offspring involvement in the criminal justice system. Journal of Criminal Justice, 35 (3), 283–296. doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2007.03.005.Google Scholar
Johnson, R. C. (2008). Ever-increasing Levels of parental incarceration and the consequences for children. Retrieved from http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~ruckerj/RSFbkChapter_parentalincarc_child.pdf.Google Scholar
Johnston, D. (1995). Effects of parental incarceration. In Gabel, K. & Johnston, D. (Eds.), Children of incarcerated parents. Maryland: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Jones, A., Gallagher, B., Manby, M., Robertson, O., Schützwohl, M., Berman, A., . . .Sharratt, K. (2013). Children of prisoners: Interventions and mitigations to strengthen mental health. Huddersfield: University of Huddersfield.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
King, N., & Horrocks, C. (2010). Interviews in qualitative research, SAGE, Thousand Oaks.Google Scholar
Liamputtong, P. (2013). Qualitative research methods (4th ed.). South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Lopez, C., & Bhat, C. S. (2007). Supporting students with incarcerated parents in schools: a group intervention. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 32 (2), 39–153.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lopez, C., & Bhat, C. S. (2010). Supporting students with incarcerated parents in schools: A group intervention. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 32 (2), 139–153.Google Scholar
Lowenstein, A. (1986). Temporary single parenthood – the case of prisoners’ families. Family Relations, 35 (1), 79–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCulloch, C., & Morrison, C. (2002). Teenagers with a family member in prison. Edinburgh: Scottish Forum on Prisons and Families.Google Scholar
Meer, J. (2007). Evidence on the returns to secondary vocational education. Economics of Education Review, 26, 559–573.Google Scholar
Mumola, C. (2000). Incarcerated parents and their children, Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report, US Department of Justice. Retrieved from <http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/>..>Google Scholar
Murray, J., & Farrington, D. P. (2008). Parental imprisonment: Long-lasting effects on boy's internalizing problems through the life course. Development and Psychopathology, 20 (1), 273–290. doi: 10.1017/S0954579408000138.Google Scholar
Murray, J., Farrington, D. P., & Sekol, I. (2012). Children's antisocial behavior, mental health, drug use, and educational performance after parental incarceration. Psychological Bulletin, 138 (2), 175–210. doi: 10.1037/a0026407.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Myers, B. J., Smarsh, T. M., Amlund-Hagen, K., & Kennon, S. (1999). Children of incarcerated mothers. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 8, 11–25.Google Scholar
Nesmith, A., & Ruhland, E. (2011). Caregivers of children with incarcerated parents. The Open Family Studies Journal, 4 (2), 105–116.Google Scholar
Nichols, E. B., & Loper, A. B. (2012). Incarceration in the household: Academic outcomes of adolescents with an incarcerated household member. Journal of Youth and Adolescents, 41 (11), 1455–1471. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10964-012-9780-9.Google Scholar
Parke, R., & Clarke-Stewart, K. A. (2002). Effects of parental incarceration on young children. Paper prepared for the Prison to Home National Policy Conference, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Inc.Google Scholar
Phillips, S. D., Burns, B. J., Wagner, H. R., Kramer, T. L., & Robbins, J. M. (2002). Parental incarceration among adolescents receiving mental health services. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 11 (4), 385–399.Google Scholar
Premier of Victoria. (2014). Minister Inspects Units at Beechworth Prison. Retrieved from http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/10438-minister-inspects-units-at-beechworth-prison.html.Google Scholar
Quilty, S. (2005). The magnitude of experience of parental incarceration in Australia. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 12 (1), 256–257. Retrieved from http://search.informit.com.au.ezproxy.lib.monash.edu.au/documentSummary;dn=763522669994765;res=IELHEA.Google Scholar
Roberts, S. (2012). The role of schools in supporting families affected by imprisonment. Edinburgh: Families Outside.Google Scholar
Shlafer, R. J., Poehlmann, J., Coffino, B., & Hanneman, A. (2009). Mentoring children with incarcerated parents: Implications for research, practice and policy. Family Relations, 58 (5), 507–519.Google Scholar
Stanton, A. M. (1980). When mothers go to jail. Maryland: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
The Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA). (2008). Melbourne declaration on educational goals for young Australians. Victoria: Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs. Retrieved from http://www.curriculum.edu.au/verve/_resources/National_Declaration_on_the_Educational_Goals_for_Young_Australians.pdf.Google Scholar
Travis, J., & Wahl, M. (2004). Prisoners once removed: The impact of incarceration and reentry on children, families, and communities. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute Press.Google Scholar
Trice, A. D., & Brewster, J. (2004). The effects of maternal incarceration on adolescent children. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 19, 27–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tudball, N. (2000). Doing it hard: A study of the needs of children and families of prisoners in Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Association of the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (VACRO).Google Scholar
Watson, L. (2009). The challenge of social inclusion for Australian schooling. Paper presented at the Australian Social Policy Conference, Sydney. Retrieved from http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/File/Paper286.pdf.Google Scholar
Willms, J. D. (2002). Vulnerable children; Findings from Canada's national longitudinal survey of children and youth. Alberta: University of Alberta Press.Google Scholar
Zalba, S. (1964). Women prisoners and their families. New York: Delmar Publishing Company.Google Scholar