Relatives of detainees are forgotten
Zurich
Relatives of detainees are often forgotten – now the Zurich Department of Justice wants to provide more support
When a father, mother or life partner is imprisoned, it is also a drastic event for the relatives. The Zurich Department of Justice will improve the work with relatives. In a Tuesday workshop report, which was presented on , experts shed light on the opportunities and risks, among other things.
Especially after arrest or in custody, the stress and uncertainty for the relatives is often high. Housing issues, finances, looking after children and pets as well as visits and contact options need to be clarified.
“For relatives, nothing is the same as before,” said director Jacqueline Fehr (SP) on Tuesday evening in a media interview. Relatives are forgotten victims of the crime. However, the available data and research on working with relatives are patchy. There is not even reliable data on how many prisoners actually have children.
Honest information better than tall tales
It is estimated that one parent out of every 9,000 children in Switzerland IS incarcerated. According to Fehr, this would be around 2,000 children for the canton of Zurich.
Right from the start, the question arises as to how the parent is informed about the liability and possible crimes. Research suggests that honest, open, and age-appropriate information is better than a lie for children as young as kindergarten age.
A team of forensic psychologists led by Research & Development (R&D) at the Office for Prisons and Reintegration (JuWe) of the Canton of Zurich has now compiled the worldwide and German-language findings on the effects of incarceration and work with relatives in a scientific publication and, among other recommendations and minimum standards developed.
collect data systematically
Prisons and correctional institutions should also focus on the relatives from the beginning of incarceration. During the initial interview, parents, life partners, children and relatives should be systematically asked about and the information should also be recorded statistically.
JuWe supports contacts between relatives and inmates and creates the necessary framework conditions, such as playrooms, to make contacts as “close to normal” as possible.
Weigh opportunities and risks
With all contacts, however, the opportunities and risks must be weighed against each other. For example, lower recidivism rates among perpetrators speak in favor of contact with their relatives. But first it must be clarified whether the imprisoned person could not burden their relatives with manipulation, threats or aggression. The welfare of the child is always the priority.
The implementation of the minimum standards for work with relatives is an ongoing process. Their development has already had an effect and three prisons have extended their visiting hours. Offers and programs for working with relatives should be accompanied professionally and scientifically so that they benefit the relatives and the inmates and do not suffer any harm. (sda)