Dear Granny7
Welcome to the board and thanks for your post. Although you are a grandmother your query relates to a parent’s situation so I will respond here rather than on our specialist Family and Friends Carers’ board.
I am sorry to hear about the difficulties that your family is currently experiencing.
I am afraid that we cannot provide specific advice on the issue of your daughter’s release on licence as this is not a topic that we cover.
However you will find a range of relevant and useful information from the following organisations:
1. The
Offenders’ families Helpline website.
2. The
Stop It Now website. This contains information about how the criminal justice system works in relation to internet offending and has specific information on licences and the implications of being on the Sex Offenders’ Register which are likely to apply to your daughter.
You don’t mention if your daughter is undertaking any programme or treatment at the moment and if she is not it would be a good idea for her to try to find out what is available as this can show that she is making positive changes.
Your daughter’s Probation Officer will be responsible for supervising her when she is released on licence and this will include approving where she will live. Probation will refer to Children’s Services to alert them to your daughter’s expected release date and they will want to ensure that any arrangements put in place will be safe and suitable for her child. Licence conditions can include restrictions on contact with children.
From what you say, children’s services assessed it to be safe for your grandson to remain at home with his mother prior to her conviction yet he is not allowed any contact whilst she is in prison, perhaps this is decided by the prison authorities? It is hard to comment on this but I am guessing that there must have been adequate supervision and protective factors in place at home.
Now that your daughter has been convicted children’s services would need to take account of this in their assessment and make sure that there are safe plans in place for her son when she is released. Your daughter could contact the social worker to enquire about what is likely to happen but any conditions on her licence will be crucial and decisions will be based on the identified risks and family’s circumstances.
Your daughter’s situation in prison sounds very difficult as she clearly has a high level of needs which you explain the prison is struggling to meet. Again this is not an area that we advise on but the
Offenders’ Families website explains how to go about getting a community care assessment by adult social care services for a person in prison. I hope this will help you. Your daughter may also need a new community care assessment from her local adult social care services when she is released.
I hope that this helps. If you have any new queries about children’s services’ involvement do post again or ring to speak to an adviser on our Freephone helpline 08080 801 0366 Mon- Fri 9.30 – 3.00 pm.
Best wishes
Suzie