Screened prison visits should be scrapped: report

Screened visits should be scrapped and greater use of temporary or ‘home’ leave should be introduced for prisoners to help maintain relationships with family members, according to a report.

The study, by the Irish Penal Reform Trust, revealed that, based on the 2005 prison population, there are an estimated 4,300 children with a father in prison at any time, and approximately 142 mothers.

However, in some cases, the children are not told of the reality of the situation, and instead told their father has “gone to work”.