Giving effect to children’s right to maintain contact with their parents in prison: a systematic review of caregivers’ perspectives

Children have a right to maintain contact with their parents in prison and they require support from caregivers to give effect to this right. The objective of this review was to develop an understanding of the facilitators and barriers that exist to caregivers supporting children to maintain contact with their parents in prison. This systematic review, pre-registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024515841), synthesised qualitative literature on caregivers’ perspectives on giving effect to children’s right to maintain contact with their parents in prison. Peer-reviewed studies with a qualitative component, published in the English language, that highlight caregivers’ perspectives on giving effect to children’s right to maintain contact with their parents in prison were included. Information sources included electronic bibliographic databases and handsearching of eligible studies. The quality of the eligible studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme for Qualitative Studies Checklist and analysis was informed by thematic synthesis. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis and Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research guidelines were followed. Forty papers, 28 of which comprised of independent datasets and 12 of which had the same or overlapping datasets, conducted across five continents were included in this review with approximately 1459 participants. The main themes identified, which were thought to contribute to caregivers’ perspectives on supporting children to maintain contact with parents in prison, are the limits of a ‘normal visit’, the ups and downs of contact from a distance, caregivers’ responsibility to protect, caregivers’ relationship dynamic with the parents in prison, the demands placed on caregivers, and navigating the prison system and access to resources. This review highlighted the pivotal role caregivers play in facilitating children to maintain contact with their parents in prison. There is a need for prison policymakers to create a prison visiting environment that is conducive to caregivers giving effect to children’s right to maintain contact with their parents in prison.