A series of short films have been produced for use in  Scotland to raise awareness of the impact a prison sentence  can have on children when their mother goes to prison. The Prison Reform Trust and Community Justice Scotland have organised a screening of two of the films, along with a discussion with some of those involved. The event will take place:

WEDNESDAY 28th APRIL 2021, 5PM – 6.30PM 

It is estimated that 27,000 children in Scotland experience  parental imprisonment each year. Only 5% of children remain in  the family home when a mother goes to prison. Many women  fail to disclose they have children due to a misguided fear of the  possible consequences this may have. 

In 2018, Dr Shona Minson from Oxford University Centre for  Criminology produced a film on the impact on children when a  mother goes to prison.

The film was edited for four different  audiences in England & Wales:  

∙ Judges and Magistrates;  

∙ Advocates and Defence Agents;  

∙ Probation workers;  

∙ Women at risk of custody. 

These films were hugely successful and are now an integral  part of training for the Judicial Institute, Magistrates Association and Probation staff involved in writing court reports. 

Now a series of similar films have been produced for use in  Scotland to raise awareness of the impact a prison sentence  can have on children when their mother goes to prison.

The  films hope to raise awareness with: 

∙ Sentencers; 

∙ Advocates, Defence Agents and Justice Social Workers; ∙ Mothers who are at risk of custody.

There is also a short film telling impact imprisonment had on  one woman and her two children. 

The films include interviews with:  

Lady Dorian Lord Justice Clerk and Chair Scottish Sentencing  Council;  

High Court Judge Lady Carmichael;  

Sheriff Susan Craig, Depute Director Judicial institute for  Scotland;  

Claire Mitchell QC;  

Defence Agent Iain Smith;  

Julie Kelly Criminal Justice Social Work Manager, Renfrewshire  Council;  

Maria and Ang, two mothers with children who were  imprisoned. 

We will screen two of the films followed by a discussion with  those involved in the films. 

For more information please contact Anne Pinkman,  Community Justice Consultant and Executive Producer of the  Safeguarding Children films at annepinkman@outlook.com

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