If you're a young person impacted by the Justice System, our advice below can help.

If you know of a young person impacted by imprisonment, here's how you can support them.

Some children have a parent who is involved with the justice system. This could mean their parent has been arrested, gone to court, or is in prison or doing community service. Even though these children have not done anything wrong, they often feel invisible, unheard, and unsure about what’s happening.

We want every child in this situation to feel listened to, supported, and included when decisions are made about how to help them.

What is a Child Impact Assessment?

A Child Impact Assessment is a tool that helps us understand how a child is feeling when their parent is involved in the justice system.

Crucially:

• it does not judge the child
• it focuses on what the child needs, what worries them, and what support might help
• it is voluntary, not a legal requirement

It’s basically a guided conversation that gives children a safe space to share how they’re doing.

Why do we need Child Impact Assessments?

Children have said that these conversations:

• help adults truly understand what they’re going through
• lead to better support
• make them feel seen, heard, and cared about

Who can help with a Child Impact Assessment?

Anyone who works with children can use it, including people from:

• schools
• social work
• charities
• other support services

To do this well, adults need to:

• keep children safe
• listen without judging
• share information carefully
• get proper training

We are developing training for anyone supporting a child with a parent in the justice system. This will be available soon.

In the meantime, we've partnered with Families Outside to raise awareness about the Child Impact Assessment toolkit. The toolkit, developed by the Prison Reform Trust, looks at how to talk to children and teenagers and offer the right support.

It breaks down:

• tailored support depending on whether it's a parent or sibling involved
• frequently asked questions
• further resources available

We also have an information letter to be sent to a parent or carer of the young person impacted by the justice system.

Where can families get more help?

Families and young people can find more information and support at Families Outside, including specific resources for children and teenagers.