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The Farmer Review into family ties – what we’ve done and what we’ve learned

Explore the insights and findings of the Farmer Review into family connections for male prisoners in England and Wales. Understand the role of family support in reducing reoffending rates and intergenerational offending. Discover the importance of inclusive family definitions and innovative interventions. Learn about the challenges and potentials of enhancing family ties within the prison system.

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The Farmer Review into family ties – what we’ve done and what we’ve learned

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  1. The Farmer Review into family ties – what we’ve done and what we’ve learned Anne Fox Chief Executive Officer – Clinks Deputy Chair of Review

  2. Overview • The review- commission, remit, context, process and some findings • How review relates to the Practitioner's Guide

  3. About the review – and a note on limitations • Commissioned by MOJ and NOMS – in White Paper • England and Wales • Prisons only - Focus on majority of prison population – i.e. adult male prisons • Led by Lord Farmer – Conservative peer – interest in families • Clinks providing Secretariat • Started in Summer 2016 - reported in January 2017

  4. Our focus • What support do men in prison and their families need to reduce reoffending rates? • What support can be provided to support a reduction in rates of intergenerational offending? • Therefore desistance based – recognising importance of family life • Inclusive and broad definition of family. • Interested also in supporting those without traditional family or strong family connections - Care leavers/care experienced; men without family contact due to offence nature • How can family support be a part of prison safety and reform?

  5. Our process – task group • Task group at the core • POPS, Pact, Clinks, User Voice, NOMS, NPS, contracted prisons • Met regularly • Visited prisons • Guided on process, evidence to gather • Met with “witnesses” expert on topics – BAME families, safety, technology, care leavers, men who have committed sexual or domestic abuse offences, workforce

  6. Our process – meeting families, men and staff • Visited prisons across the estate • Meetings held with men in prison, families, families organisations, governors and staff • Meetings also with thought leaders – HMCIs, leaders of other reviews of relevance, academics

  7. Our process – call for evidence • National ad campaign on National Prison Radio with a Freephone facility – based on a feature with an interview with Lord Farmer • Surveys for men designed with men in prison • Surveys for families designed with family support organisations • Written submissions from VCS, professionals and academics

  8. Responses • 15 witnesses • 79 submissions • 465 family surveys covering 43 prisons • 431 surveys from men in 39 prisons • Over 100 recorded messages from men on National Prison Radio Freephone line

  9. What we learned • Practice and provision vary • Importance of visits • Contact is expensive • Potential for technology • Services are valued by men and families but vary • Prisons don’t always find they can make best use of the assets families are • There is real innovation and good interventions • There’s a real appetite to get things right • Families and men in prison are keen to share experiences • Bears out many of the issues the practitioner’s guide helps with!

  10. Farmer Review & the practitioner’s guide - Building the practice foundations • Current provision doesn’t come from children's rights perspective and often negatively impacts on them • Information on how the system should work needs to improve • Lack of multi agency working – fragmented systems – added complexity of churn and transfer

  11. Farmer Review & the practitioner’s guide - Understanding the impact of offending on the whole family • Real need for improvements in the fact that the consequences of punishing person in prison inflicts punishment on their families – including the contact and support services and how provided • Financial consequences of imprisonment • Processes should be family proofed and staff skilled

  12. Farmer Review & the practitioner’s guide - Supporting parents and carers • Parent and carer needs not assessed by statutory CJS agencies and no formal funding for VCSE to do so • Real need for linkage across prison and community services • Families talked a lot about feeling judged and not supported • Need for reimagining of the role of parents and carers – part of solution

  13. Farmer Review & the practitioner’s guide - Supporting children and young people • There are some services within prisons for children but often delivered via VCSE organisations – and aimed at younger children • Processes need to improve to make the experience better and more conducive to strong relationships – IEP, forms of contact, customer service training etc.

  14. For further information • http://www.clinks.org/criminal-justice-supporting-families-prisoners/farmer-review-how-can-supporting-men-prison-engage • Results in Spring 2017

  15. Have you any questions?

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