The far-reaching impact on children and ‘left behind’ parents/carers when a family member is imprisoned are well documented (Minson, 2019). Parental imprisonment is recognised as a potential risk factor for many adverse outcomes for children, including anti-social behaviour and poor educational attainment (Kincaid et al., 2019).  These risk factors reflect a variety of complex processes including children being separated from their parent and the disturbance this causes; financial struggles; stigma and difficulties in trying to keep in contact with the imprisoned parent (Murray & Farrington, 2008).

It can be extremely traumatic for a child to watch their parent or family member being arrested and taken away from the family home, but it is also very distressing for children not present to not know where their parent or family member is or why they have left. This may be exacerbated when the parent or family member is not allowed to leave a note or make arrangements for the children (Cooper et al., 2023).

Children of offenders often lack full information about where their parent or family member is and the nature of their offence.

Lack of information about familial imprisonment can be very difficult for children; many of whom are unaware of why their family member or parent is no longer at home (Cooper et al., 2023).

Research carried out by Noel et al., (2024) exploring how families make decisions about the type of information and methods of communication used to inform children about familial crimes reveals that 17% of the children studied were not told about their family member’s imprisonment but found out through their own investigations. The remaining 83% found out either through direct communication from various family members or indirectly through experiences such as being present at arrests or police investigations.

Many children read about their parents or family members offences as it is reported and shared through different media.

Police forces maintain official social media accounts to share information about specific crimes within local communities. The reporting of crimes through journalism are also shared through different media including local and national news channels, news sites and through social media.

Information shared through different media can shape how the public understand and perceive crimes, criminals and families of criminals.

Research (Mercadal, 2023) highlights how the media serves as a primary source of information about crimes which can influence societal perceptions and influence attitudes and fears regarding safety and justice.

Media representations of crimes are often selective, sensationalised and in some cases misleading.

Berry et al., (2012) explore the media reporting of crimes and its impact upon the general public in terms of knowledge and attitudes and the moral panics that might ensue as a consequence. Their research indicates that the sharing and reporting of crimes through different media not only communicates ‘what’ happened but also defines and ultimately narrates what is perceived to be true.

At the heart of the legal system in England and Wales is the principle of open justice.

This principle asserts that judicial proceedings should be transparent and open to public scrutiny. However, courts do have the discretion to impose reporting restrictions, when necessary, often to prevent prejudice or to protect the rights of individuals involved.

The legal framework governing the reporting of sentences for offenders who are parents in England and Wales is complex. It reflects a delicate balance between the foundational principle of open justice and the equally vital need to safeguard the rights to privacy and family life – particularly those of children affected by their parent’s or family members criminal convictions.

How are the rights of children with parents or family members in prison protected?

Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), incorporated into UK law via the Human Rights Act 1998, guarantees the right to respect for private and family life (Human Rights Act 1998; European Convention on Human Rights, 1950). This right is frequently invoked in cases where public reporting of a parent’s or family members sentencing may result in undue harm to their children or family life.

When offenders are parents, the law often focuses on the implications of reporting on their children. Several legal provisions specifically address the need to protect children from the adverse effects of media publicity.

One of the most relevant statutes is the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Section 49 of this Act imposes automatic reporting restrictions on youth court proceedings, preventing the publication of identifying details of any child involved, whether as a defendant, victim, or witness (Children and Young Persons Act 1933).

The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 extends this ability to impose reporting restrictions in adult courts too, such as protecting the identity of under-18s (section 45) and even enabling lifelong anonymity for victims and witnesses under the age of 18 (Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999).

Equally, article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) (1950), incorporated into UK law via the Human Rights Act (1998), guarantees the right to respect for private and family life. This right is frequently invoked in cases where public reporting of a parent’s or family members sentencing may result in undue harm to their children or family life.

Jigsaw identity

Despite these mechanisms, implementing effective reporting restrictions remains fraught with challenges. One significant concern is the heightened interest from the media in high-profile cases involving parental offenders. In such cases, the volume of coverage can increase the risk of children being identified, even when their names are not published. Details such as school locations, family structures, or geographical clues can lead to ‘jigsaw identification’, whereby readers piece together information to deduce a child’s identity. Furthermore, the rapid spread of information on social media and digital news platforms poses new difficulties for enforcing reporting restrictions.

Unlike traditional media, online content is harder to monitor and control, and once published, potentially identifying information can be disseminated globally and remain accessible indefinitely.

This raises implications for how children access information about their parent or family member and the impact that this can have on how they process and understand where their parent or family member has gone and why they are in prison. This also means that children and young people need to navigate media reports of familial crimes which may be sensationalised or misleading. For many children and young people, finding out more about their parents or family members crime is a challenging and emotionally triggering process. Furthermore, very little research to date has examined the impact of media reporting of familial crimes on children of prisoners.

New research at the Open University Children’s Research Centre in partnership with YSS investigate the Impact of online media exposure on children of prisoners

The study, entitled An Investigation into the Impact of Online Media Exposure of Familial Crimes on Children, is a collaboration between YSS (Your Support Services), a leading charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable children and young people and the Children’s Research Centre (CRC) at The Open University. It aims to fill a significant gap in understanding how media coverage of family-related crimes affects young people, while also developing a support programme and resources to help them navigate the emotional complexities that arise from such exposure.

Professor Victoria Cooper and Dr. Catherine Comfort, from the Open University’s CRC, will lead the research team, which includes Dr Stephanie Bennett, Dr Ellesar Elhaggagi, Dr Lauren Rose. The project will also involve a young person steering group, ensuring that the views of young participants are integral to the project’s progress.

Through this research YSS and the CRC will examine the lasting impact on the well-being of children and young people who are exposed to traumatic media coverage, helping them heal and thrive in the face of adversity.

You can:

• find out more about this research here: YSS secures OSC grant to investigate impact of online media exposure on children of prisoners | Research at The Open University 
• access the research survey here: 

• link to our other research here Forgotten families | OpenLearn - Open University 
• and our report here: Open Research Online