CHAMPION study protocol: children whose mothers are involved in the criminal justice system in Dorset & Hampshire, UK – developing health and social care outcome indicators
Donna Arrondelle, Naomi Gadian, Lucy Wainwright, Sara Morgan, Natalie Austin, Kathleen Kendall, Julie Parkes, Paula Harriott, Emma PluggeIntroduction
Each year, approximately 17 000 children will have a mother who is imprisoned in England and Wales. The impact of maternal vs paternal imprisonment is very different; the negative health consequences on children are likely to be much greater if a mother is imprisoned. The number of children affected by non-custodial justice involvement is likely to be far greater given the higher number of women under probation supervision. However, no official statistics or estimates are collected for this population. The purpose of the CHAMPION (children whose mothers are involved in the criminal justice system in Dorset & Hampshire, UK – developing health and social care outcome indicators) study is to develop a better understanding of the evidence of the impact of maternal contact with the CJS (Criminal Justice System) on children and to establish a set of core outcome indicators for monitoring and evaluating affected children’s health and well-being.
Methods and analysis
(i) A scoping review of the health impacts of maternal vs paternal imprisonment, (ii) qualitative focus groups and interviews with adults whose mother was imprisoned when they were children and children of mothers who have either been or currently are in prison or have received community order sentences. Qualitative interviews with a range of professionals working with these children, (iii) an outcomes workshop with justice-involved mothers and professionals working with the children and families of justice-involved mothers, and adult children who experienced maternal imprisonment.
Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval from the University of Southampton’s Faculty of Medicine Review Panel (Ref: 76946) and His Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) National Research Committee (Ref: 2023-135). Publishing in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at research conferences, round table events and community-based workshops. The study’s peer researchers and lived experience leaders will enable the dissemination of findings beyond academic audiences and policy makers to third sector CJS organisations and individuals with lived experience.