Press release: embargoed until 4pm, 15 December 2009

Research partners announce release of report into the children of prisoners

The community organisation PILLARS, and the research company Network Research, have collaborated on the first year of a major research study into the children of prisoners.

Funded by the Lottery Community Sector Research Committee, the study interviewed prisoners, families, children, community and government organisations about the status and outlook for prisoners’ children.

Internationally there has been some research on this topic (though little as detailed as our programme), but this is the first ever New Zealand study.

Findings are summarised in a separate release and in the executive summary. However, we urge news organisations to read the full report to get the best picture of the children’s situation. The four key sections on economic, social, health and educational needs are well worth reading.

The full report will be found at www.networkers.co.nz and www.pillars.org.nz from 4pm on 15 December.

What we hope will happen with this first year report is that community and government organisations consider their policies and services in relation to the findings. We will be re-interviewing these organisations in mid-2010 and hope to see the beginnings of a more effective response to the unmet needs of the children.

The media now have the opportunity to present this new information to the public, hopefully sparking some debate about the level of disadvantage suffered by these children and how we, as a society, can respond.

We heard last week that our funding is confirmed for year 2.

ENDS

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