Children’s commissioner Helen Connolly calls for more support for kids with incarcerated parents

A mum leaving $150 behind when she went to prison didn’t go far, but that’s more help than thousands of SA kids with jailed parents get.

Almost one child in every classroom will endure the experience of having an incarcerated parent during their childhood, but they often remain invisible in the community and to policy makers.

A new report released by the Commissioner for Children and Young People, Helen Connolly, calls for more to be done to support the children – who are innocent victims – when their parents become involved in the criminal justice system.

“It’s simply not fair that a child should also be punished because their parent has been incarcerated and we must do better to change the experience, language and stigma associated,” she said.

In Australia, the average class size is between 22-26 students, and the most recent estimates show one in 20 children will have a parent who is jailed before they become an adult.

The report finds that in South Australia this may currently be as many as 6200 children.

Ms Connolly said those children often feel isolated and experience bullying. They also have to deal with their own feelings of anger, shame and “guilt by association”.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold Ms Connolly met with 66 children aged 10-16 to better understand the impact a parent’s incarceration can have on their children.

SA Commissioner for Children and Young People Helen Connolly.

Among them was Andrew, a now 18-year-old, whose life was turned upside down at 15 when his father – a single parent – went to prison.

He told Ms Connolly he was in a state of “absolute confusion” after his dad was arrested at the family home.

Andrew had no other family to call upon and did not know where to reach out for help. He ended up in a youth shelter which he found scary, “suddenly (going) from living with people you know to living with strangers”.

He struggled to find somewhere to live and found himself in unsafe situations and without money. He explained how he “got told nothing” and that children in his situation should be given as much information as possible.

“It feels as though you are living in a world that no one else would understand,” he told Ms Connolly.

“You lose your dignity as well as any hopes you had for the future.”

His life has since become more settled but his father remains in jail.

Based on the interviews Ms Connolly’s report makes four key recommendations aimed at better informing – in an age appropriate way – the child about their parent’s situation and the need to identify children of incarcerated parents as a priority access group for government support services.

“Many children and young people affected by parental incarceration see knowing the truth about their parent’s situation as key to being able to seek effective help,” she said.

“I am hopeful that because of this report, a group of SA children who are currently sitting under the policy radar will become more visible, and that the services and supports they are rightfully owed will become available in the shortest possible time frames,” Ms Connolly said.

She said a key factor for better supporting children is identifying children and young people as a priority access group for government services.

Prisons currently do not ask those who enter the facility if they have children and consequently many slip through the cracks.

Ms Connolly said identifying at risk children early allows for protective measures to prevent intergenerational offending. Figures show children of prisoners are six times more likely to end up in jail than kids from law-abiding families.

“We can actually do something to reduce that likelihood, to make them feel connected. People who are connected, who belong, who feel loved and valued generally aren’t people who are in our jails.

“We need to do all we can to identify these children and we need to support them now.”

Second Chances chief executive Helen Glanville agreed “so much more” could be done for the children who she said were “the forgotten victims” of their parent’s crimes.

“It’s not their crime, it’s not their fault,” she said.

“If we don’t look after them, potentially they could become tomorrow’s prisoners.”

She said the non-profit volunteer organisation worked with children in various programs to help ignite a sense of hope, dignity and belonging among the children who are often struggling to cope with trauma and upheaval caused by a parent’s incarceration.

Second Chances chief executive Helen Glanville. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

She said children learn by example, but in many cases their parents are not ideal role models.

“Unfortunately, many are living in homes where values and life lessons many of us take for granted, such as work ethic, are just not taught,” she said.

She emphasised that each child experienced a unique situation and not all families wanted help, least of all from the government, and some were afraid of having their children removed.

She said in one example, a single mother who knew she would be jailed left $150 on the table for her three children – all aged under 10 – hoping it would sustain them during her incarceration. Within a week the children were hungry and sought help via their teachers.

In another example, she said a 15-year-old girl whose single parent was jailed, remained living alone in her family home, determined to finish putting herself through school.

But she said, regardless of their circumstances, the children deserved hope, and a chance to make good decisions for their own lives.

A Department for Corrections spokesperson said: “The department was pleased to be able to help facilitate the sessions with prisoners as parents and looks forward to working through the relevant aspects of the report.”

Originally published as Children’s commissioner Helen Connolly calls for more support for kids with incarcerated parents