Mother–infant separations in prison. A systematic attachment-focused policy review

Abstract

Mothers in prison separated from their young children are an overlooked group. Attachment theory could provide a useful model to underpin interventions and better support women affected by separation from their infants. Current policy draws on a limited body of evidence and research has developed considerably since its first design. This review systematically searched all relevant UK prison policy and government documents with regards to mother and child separation in prison and analysed the extent to which these documents draw on attachment theory. Following initial searches, 58 documents were thematically analysed. Attachment was implicitly referred to in most documents but only explicitly mentioned in four. Global themes identified included ‘separation as trauma’. However, document groups varied in focusing either on the mother or the child and there were no joint perspectives. Developing and researching specific attachment-informed interventions might be one way forward as would further attachment-based research in this area.

Keywords:

• Women offenders
• prison
• child
• human attachment

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Professor Antonia Bifulco for her comments on this paper.

Notes

1. See https://www.gov.uk/life-in-prison/pregnancy-and-childcare-in-prison.

2. See for example Burman, (2008) and Keller, (2013).

3. NICE is a UK public body of the Department of Health which provides national guidance for health and social care standards. See https://www.nice.org.uk/ for further information.

4. Early Years policy is a statutory UK framework which sets the agenda for care and education of children birth to five. Whilst not without its critics (e.g. www.earlychildhoodaction.com), it is an attempt to use current knowledge of child development to underpin government policy.

5. The UK Home Office commissioned Baroness Corston to conduct a report into vulnerable women in the prison system. The report called for a ‘radically different … woman-centred, integrated approach’ and its recommendations have informed government policy.

6. HMIP is an independent inspectorate which reports on prisons, youth offender institutions etc., in particular their conditions and the treatment of prisoners. This work forms part of the UK’s obligations to the UN Convention against Torture. See: http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/about-hmi-prisons/.

7. See: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140305122816/http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/networks/gsr/resources-and-guidance/rapid-evidence-assessment.

8. In 2006 the UK Home Secretary asked Baroness Jean Corston to carry out a review of women in the criminal justice system following the deaths of six women at HMP Styal. Her report outlined the need for a woman-centred approach and made 43 recommendations for improving services for women.

9. Initial search included PSOs, PSIs, HMIP reports, Ministry of Justice reports, National Offender Management Service documents, House of Commons reports, All-Party Parliamentary Group reports.

10. Prisoners trained by the Samaritans (UK suicide-prevention charity) to support other prisoners through active listening.

11. See the following for details of Stephanie Covington’s programme which is currently being rolled out in the female prison estate: http://www.onesmallthing.org.uk/about/trauma-informed-practice-materials/.