No official record exists of children of prisoners as neither the courts, governments, nor local services ask routinely about them. They are unlikely to reveal themselves for fear of social stigma and bullying and so remain hidden from local services.
Children with a parent in prison are
- Twice as likely to experience conduct and mental health problems, and less likely to do well at school.
- Three times more likely to be involved in offending. Sixty five per cent of boys with a convicted father will go on to offend themselves.
Although the above figures are for England and Wales the trends are likely to be very similar for Scotland and Northern Ireland.