Imprisonment can be a family sentence

Prison Project

Funded by The Robertson Trust

Having a family member in prison can sometimes make you feel like you are serving a sentence too.  You will have to cope with separation, you may worry about finances, you may feel isolated and alone.  You may be pressured or manipulated by your relative into doing things against your will or suffer threats from the victims of your loved ones offence. 

Supporting an offender can be very stressful, especially if you don't know the prison system. Maintaining positive contact with your family member can reduce their risk of reoffending but even if you chose not to maintain contact you will still worry.  Your children will also suffer not knowing where their Dad has gone, or suffer taunts at school.  We can offer both practical and emotional support to help you cope.

• We can provide one to one support in person or on the telephone

• We can visit you in your own home

• We can provide information on prison regimes, other services and other prisons

• We can meet with you before and after visiting

• We can be there with you when you attend court

Visiting prison can be a very daunting and upsetting experience.  We have a help desk in HMP Kilmarnock situated at Outside visits.  We can offer our help and experience to you if you are visiting a family member in prison.  If you are visiting for the first time, we can help with the formal procedures, support and be there for you during what can be a daunting experience.  If you have visited before we are there to listen to you.

We are working with HMP Kilmarnock to further develop the work we do at the prison.  Our support worker is now available in the Link Centre on Mondays and Wednesdays and can be contacted by the families via the prison.  Prisoners can attend the Link Centre and speak with our Support Worker to refer their family to us for help.

  

You can also access all of our other services - Family Support