The Role of Support in Mitigating the Impact of Family Imprisonment on Children and Families
A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760). This special issue belongs to the section "Crime and Justice".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2025 | Viewed by 8
Special Issue Editors
Interests: childhood and youth voice; children and young people’s identity development; childhood and adolescent mental health
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue is dedicated to examining and discussing the unique impact on children and families of having a family member in prison. Whilst attention is now moving to focus on this very important issue, there is still limited research about what type of support family members of prisoners need, and what impact familial imprisonment has in both the short and long terms. Furthermore, limited research has considered the intersectionality of the needs of families of prisoners that cut across issues related to mental health, gender, ethnicity, poverty, and social disadvantage. Addressing these issues will provide an important contribution to this area of research and practice.
The stigma associated with familial imprisonment, coupled with limited targeted support, perpetuates a cycle where these families remain marginalized. A key focus of this Special Issue seeks to examine how targeted support can break these cycles and propose potential policy solutions.
This Special Issue aims to bring together interdisciplinary research that considers critical perspectives on the impact of familial imprisonment on children and families worldwide.
Submissions may employ a variety of methodologies, including quantitative analyses, qualitative studies, case studies, mixed methods, and evaluations; international perspectives are welcomed.
This collection of papers will advance the knowledge in the field and stimulate further research concerning this vital area of research.
Prof. Dr. Victoria L. Cooper
Dr. Stephanie J. Bennett
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- children of criminalized individuals
- development
- familial imprisonment
- families
- intersectionality
- marginalization
- need-based support
- stigma
- silence
- voice
- wellbeing
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