Seeds of Affinity
Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Media Release
Children ‘collateral damage’ in the criminal justice system
Ongoing psychological trauma; a system at odds with the needs of children and mothers and a lack of coordinated services are just some of the issues impacting on children identified by community members in a report released today.
For the first time in South Australia, Women’s prison advocacy group Seeds of Affinity, has released a report highlighting the impact of a mother’s incarceration on children.
Every women and child: A community response to the issues of children in the criminal justice system involves the insights of community agencies and advocates, including mothers with lived prison experience; the Commissioner for Victims’ Rights; a leading psychologist; the CEO of the Aboriginal Legal Rights movement and senior staff in the Department of Corrections.
The report highlights the role prison staff can play in providing a better environment for children and the need to cultivate a ‘kinder environment’ for mothers and children, giving recognition to the importance of the bonds that play a major influence on a child’s potential to prosper.
More than 70 participants from the community sector acknowledged the damage to relationships caused by the prison experiences; the lack of information available to children; the role which prison can play in circumventing intergenerational offending and the role prison staff can play.
The separation of infants and children from their mothers was a key concern, as South Australia is the only State in Australia which does not have a Mothers and Babies Unit.
Linda Fisk, founding member and chairperson of Seeds of Affinity says, ‘Both mothers and children suffer greatly from forced separation when mothers are in prison’.
Ms Fisk stresses Adelaide Women’s Prison needs a Mothers and Babies Unit as a matter of urgency.
Keynote speaker, Michael O’Connell, Commissioner for Victims’ Rights South Australia says, ‘Children’s voices must be heard…When determining what is in the best interests of the child, it is important that the bond betweenwomen and their children is acknowledged.’
Other keynote speakers included, Malcolm Robinson, Director of Bower Place Complex Needs Clinic, Psychologist, Cheryl Axelby, Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement CEO and Bernie McGinnes, Principal Adviser for Women Offenders Department for Correctional Services.
Seeds of Affinity provides pathways for women entering mainstream society following the prison experience and is focused on lifting the veil of invisibility of the children of prisoners to begin reconciling the harshness of the prison environment with the needs of this vulnerable group.
Every women and child: A community response to the issues of children in the criminal justice system provides tangible ways to improve outcomes of criminalised women and their children by helping to keep South Australian stakeholders connected, communicating and accountable for a safer, stronger community.
Available for interview:
Linda Fisk, Coordinator, Seeds of Affinity, 0488 002 178
Michael O’Connell, Commissioner for Victims Rights 0401 716 989
Cheryl Axelby, Chief Executive Officer Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, 0408711514
Julie-Anne Toohey, Researcher in the area of the impact of prison on children and Flinders University, 0409 396 762
Please note: Interviews can be arranged with Andrea Duff 0416 208 923 or Rachael Hakim 0457 449 222.