Foreign national prisoners and the maintenance of family ties in Irish prisons

This article examines the importance of familial relationships in the lives of 82 Foreign National Prisoners (FNPs) in Irish Prisons. This article begins by outlining the methodology of the qualitative study. It then develops two key findings that emerged from the prisoner interviews. First, the article shows that the preservation of family relationships is compromised by geography, the costs associated with prison visits, technology and time differences. Secondly, the article reveals the financial and emotional strain which imprisonment can have on FNPs and their family members. Finally, the article concludes by emphasising the need for a dedicated service that would go some way towards ameliorating the specific issues raised by FNPs, and the families of FNPs, based on their lived experiences.