All research and evidence on NICCO is reviewed using a Quality Assessment Tool (QAT) developed by the University of Huddersfield and Barnardo's.
Research and evidence is assessed in four key areas: Methodological Quality, Child-Centredness, Relevance to Policy and Strategy, and Relevance to Practice with offender's children. This ensures that items on the NICCO website are as useful as possible to academics, practitioners, commissioners and other professionals. For more information about the development of the QAT or to review research in order to list it on NICCO, please see the QAT webpage where you can download the Tool, Guidebook and a short step-by-step 'How To' document. Please contact us to submit quality assessed research on to NICCO.
Click on the icons to see a full list of items which have been awarded a standard icon or icon+ (for items which have scored particularly highly) in each key area:
Results 7 - 12 of 27
This Big Lottery funded study looks at resettlement of fathers. The article considers previous studies which have shown that parental imprisonment is a risk factor in the development in familial relationships and conversely considers the benefits to viewing families with strong ties as a resource for protecting children of prisoners and reducing reoffending.
The study is the first longitudinal study in the UK and Europe to investigate the positive and negative outcomes for parents and children using data collected from them. It considers the quality of family relationships, contact during imprisonment, communication and problem solving, parenting and care-giving, social support networks, stigmatisation, finances, employment, housing, participation in support programmes, health issues, social behaviour and other factors. The aim of the research is to increase knowledge of such processes and to assist the National Offender Management Service and third sector to develop more effective interventions for imprisoned fathers, their (ex)partners and their children.
See Risk and protective factors in the resettlement of imprisoned fathers below:
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This Big Lottery Funded study focuses on under-researched groups of children and the kin carers who look after them when their parents are unable to (one reason being that their parent(s) are in prison).
The official number of children in England referred by children's services to live with kin is less than 7,000. However, those living "informally" with friends or relative carers as privately arranged by family is estimated at 200-300,000 in England and Wales. The report looks at how well the needs of these children and their carers are met and examines what services or financial support may be needed to enhance the children's development and reduce negative impact on the family. The study looks at 2001 Census Data to analyse characteristics of children and kin care households. In addition standardised and measured interviews were conducted with 80 8-18 year olds, who live under informal kinship care, to uncover their views about what would make their outcomes better. Only 8% of children in this study have a parent in prison, however, many of the issues uncovered are the same across kinship caring households. Interviews were also conducted with the carers. The aim of the research for Buttle UK is to influence national policy and local practice to improve circumstances and outcomes for children and in turn their informal kinship carers.
See The Poor Relations below:
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This research was conducted in Scotland although it can be read and learned from by people from any country.
It notes that in Scotland in 2009 there were more children with a parent in prison than experiencing divorce, and explores the idea that separation as a result of parental imprisonment is traumatic for those children. The report looks at literature around this trauma including the likeliness of these children developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and offending behaviours in later life. The researcher interviewed a small sample of children, young people and some carers. The findings were concerned with experiences e.g. grandparental care of children, the want for their views being taken into account by a judge and the impact the imprisonment of a parent has had on them e.g. levels of anxiety. The report concludes that children's rights, views and best interests must be taken into account in the event of parental imprisonment and makes recommendations for Scottish Policy, courts, remand and sentencing.
See Perspectives of Children below:
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This research was conducted in light of the fact that charities help facilitate contact and visits to family members inside, who are 39% less likely to re-offend as a result, but measuring the difference charities make can be difficult due to poor recording and lack of available funds for evaluation purposes.
Think NPC worked with 6 charities (Action for Prisoners' Families, Kids VIP, pact, POPS, Safe Ground and Storybook Dads) to identify common frameworks of understanding and key areas of measurement including; changes in family relationships and experience of those visiting. Think NPC devised 2 questionnaires. The findings reveal which programmes worked for the families. Recommendations are around the government improving measurement, developing the measurement tools such as the one designed as part of the research and developing a shared approach to measurement e.g. flexibility.
Read about this shared measurement approach below:
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You will need a log in to Wiley Online Library to access the full article.
This is a peer-reviewed essay written in reaction to the dramatic increase in numbers of children with a parent in prison in the US and UK throughout the 1990's and research which shows the adverse life opportunities available to children in such circumstances. Evidence is reviewed in relation to key issues including risks for children of prisoners and how parental imprisonment may cause negative outcomes for children. Conclusions are made which highlight the importance of developing parenting programmes and the need for criminal justice reforms which encompass aspects such as substance misuse and mental health issues. The research also makes policy recommendations for reducing risk and suggestions for further longitudinal research needed in order to develop programmes to ensure children of prisoners are considered.
Discover more about evidence based programmes below:
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You will need access to Wiley Online to access the full report.
This peer-reviewed article refers to the USA but can be applied anywhere. It explores the notion that intergenerational crime, as most research would report, may not only have causal links to social disadvantage, parenting, genetics and modelling processes but that a parents involvement in the criminal justice system itself may be the cause and negatively impact on a child. The youngest and oldest samples of a longitudinal study of 1,009 boys in inner city Pittsburgh were used to explore the development of problem behaviour in young people and how this links to their parents' arrest, conviction and imprisonment. Findings uncovered that parental arrest and conviction without imprisonment were not precursors to problematic behaviour in the boys. Whilst parental imprisonment had no links to the boys' marijuana use, depression or poor academic performance there was an increase in theft amongst them compared with control groups and this link was stronger for White than for Black youth. Conclusions note that although parenting (post release) and peer relations accounted for around half of youth theft, the specificity of the relationship between youth theft and parental imprisonment suggests that labelling and stigma could be intrinsic to understanding the repercussions of parental imprisonment for children and young people.
Understand more about the links between parental involvement in the criminal justice system via the link below:
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