A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, Their Families & Children

A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Leonie Harvey-Rolfe, Lead Research & Evaluation Officer Sara Rattenbury, Research Officer February 2020 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

The National Centre for Children of Offenders or NICCO has been established to Contents provide an information service for all professionals who come into contact with the children and families of offenders, as well as academics and those responsible for strategic development and commissioning. The Centre is delivered by Barnardo’s in partnership with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). Chapter Summary Visit www.nicco.org.uk to find out more. Forewords 4 A Note on Key Terms 7 This research was conducted and authored by: Introduction 8 Leonie Harvey-Rolfe Lead Research & Evaluation Officer for NICCO at Barnardo’s Midlands and South Executive Summary 9 West region. Leonie is an Applied Anthropologist (BA, MA) and Community & Youth List of Recommendations 12 Worker with over 12 years’ experience working in the community sector. She has extensive experience of frontline work in areas such as complex needs and gender- Section One – Research & Policy Context 15 based violence. As a researcher, she has expertise in qualitative and participatory Section Two – Methodology 19 methodologies. Section Three – Characteristics of Sample 24 Sara Rattenbury Research Officer and Strategic Engagement Manager for the NICCO team Section Four – Needs Before Custody 30 at Barnardo’s Midlands and South West region. She has worked with various stakeholders within this role, including prisons and police forces. Sara has also Section Five – Needs During Custody 49 worked for 20 years operationally in various roles supporting children and families. Section Six – Needs After Custody 81 She has a Master’s Degree, where her dissertation research looked at the impact of paternal imprisonment on father/child relationships. This research sparked the 10. Conclusion 98 interest in exploring the needs of offenders and their families further. 11. Glossary of Services 100

Acknowledgements 12. Bibliography 105 For their valuable contributions to this publication, our sincere thanks go to: 13. Appendices 109 • The veterans, children and families who contributed to this research, without whom our services would not truly understand the lived experiences of families affected. We hope that this needs assessment will help to improve and develop services to List of Diagrams support you. 1. Breakdown of regiments served for participants • Forces in Mind Trust, in partnership with the Big Lottery Community Fund for who served in the Army 26 funding this research and the FiMT staff for their ongoing support throughout. 2. Support needs overall 28 • The Barnardo’s practitioners who contributed their resources, knowledge and 3. Support needs of veterans before custody 39 expertise. In particular, Zoe Cook (CAPO Team Administrator) who has given her time and critical insight throughout the project. 4. Veterans in contact with their children 61 • HMPPS governors who allowed our research to take place within their prison 5. Support needs of veterans during custody 65 estates; and to the prison officers, VICSOs, FEWs and additional staff who supported us in identifying and interviewing participants in custody. 6. Support needs of veterans after custody 85 • The professionals who formed our expert steering group; giving their time and expertise to support us in developing the research and reviewing our findings. List of Case Studies 1. Barnardo’s Family Veteran Support Service 47 2. HMP Parc, Endeavour Unit 72 3. SSAFA 75 4. Barnardo’s Military Corrective Training Centre 78 5. Care after Combat, Project Phoenix 96

3 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Foreword Foreword Barnardo’s Forces in Mind Trust

Outcomes tend to be worse for However, prison visits are only part of the Life is full of transitions, and we know This report correctly identifies the many factors prisoners’ children than for their solution. The recommendations in this report from over 7 years of knowledge and that make supporting families of veterans in including early intervention, support with the criminal justice system so complicated. peers. Yet they are hidden, because mental health problems and family breakdown evidence generation that for members They range widely: alcohol abuse; loss of no one counts them, and stigmatised, are hardly new. What is needed is a change of the Armed Forces, the transition identity; stigma and inadequate services are all because their families often feel in systems and culture by all services so that into civilian life can be a challenge. highlighted as contributing to poor outcomes ashamed to ask for help. Barnardo’s, veterans, their partners and most importantly Equally, we know that whilst most for such families. their children receive the right support at the along with other voluntary right time and the stigma of prison is removed. meet this challenge successfully, The solutions offered are hardly revolutionary organisations, supports prisoners’ Only then can we truly start to improve the life some people, for a variety of reasons, though. Better access to healthcare, early children both in the community and chances of veterans and their families. struggle. It is hard to imagine a more interventions, improved families visits and an overriding need to solve the housing crisis that inside prisons. challenging transition than from is afflicting our country. If we fix these, then being a respected member of the we certainly help fix those families caught up Every child deserves the best start in life so that British military to being incarcerated in the criminal justice system, and perhaps we they can achieve and thrive – no matter who for wrong doings. improve the chances of successful transition their parents are or what they have done. Yet as for many others too. We have clear evidence of this ground-breaking research shows, prisoners’ what is needed and a moral imperative to help. Sarah Crawley ties with their families are put under immense Our research has yielded insights into the key We now call upon all those involved to consider Director role that the family of the Service leaver can play strain before, during and after imprisonment. Barnardo’s Cymru & South West England the 14 recommendations in this report and to Barnardo’s has long argued for prisons to take a in making that transition successful, whilst take whatever steps are necessary to deliver family based approach to maintaining family ties acknowledging that the family members will also them. The children of our Armed Forces deserve by ensuring all prison visits and family days are undergo their own transitions. Again, it takes nothing less. not based on a system of privileges. Visiting a little effort to imagine the terrible extra pressure parent in prison is a right not a privilege. on a family who are swapping a military for a civilian life, possibly abruptly, and with the main bread winner no longer able to contribute financially, emotionally or physically. “It’s always been difficult for me growing up cos I’ve grown up around Regardless of whether entanglement with the criminal justice system happens during service, Air Vice-Marshal Ray Lock CBE domestics with my mum. She was in or indeed some time later, and no matter what Chief Executive, Forces in Mind Trust between blokes here, blokes there the cause, it is the role of charities such as and we was moving around. I always ours and Barnardo’s to ensure that those most grew up around drink, drugs and vulnerable are given the necessary support to rebuild their lives. And can there be anyone domestic... I took myself away from more deserving of every ounce of help that we that joining the Army.” can muster than the children affected by family (Veteran in Custody) breakdown, an absent parent, or one suffering a complex mental health issue?

4 5 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Foreword A note on Steve Lowe key terms

I welcome this research produced introduce systems and mechanisms in my estate to For the purposes of this research, the Serving identify any ex-military personnel. I was surprised by The National Information Centre terms below will be defined as follows. This term is used to refer to both serving in to discover around 40 ex-military prisoners who the military and serving a custodial sentence. on Children of Offenders (NICCO, otherwise would have gone unnoticed. delivered by Barnardo’s in partnership Fathers This term will be qualified to ensure it is clear if the ‘serving’ referred to is their military Through my prison work and later, across the Male participants consulted as part of this with HMPPS). This report provides a wider criminal justice system with Project service or a custodial sentence. vital platform to hear from veterans research who are veterans, serving a custodial Nova (delivered in partnership by RFEA – sentence or have been released in the last 12 with experience of custody, and their The Forces Employment Charity and Walking months and have children 18 years or under. Veteran/Ex-Armed Service Personnel families and children. With The Wounded), I have spent time getting Following the original definition used by to know veterans and their families. I have Family/Families Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families gained increasing awareness of the unique Association (SSAFA), we define a veteran as The contribution of personal experience from General term referring to the nuclear family barriers and needs this group of veterans “a former member of the British Armed Forces the families of veterans, and veterans themselves unit (parents and children) which may or may and their families experience, as well as the who has served more than 1 day”. who have experience of prison custody is very opportunities which could have helped to reduce not be separated and include biological and impactful to read. This has been invaluable to their risk of contact with the criminal justice step-children unless stated otherwise. The actual term ‘veteran’ is used widely to help shape observations and findings, alongside describe tailored support in prison estates system in the first instance. This term is also used by veterans to describe the input from expert stakeholders and steering and as such, this was the language we adopted their military ‘family’, a reference to the level of group members. My gratitude to all those who It is fair to recognise that since 2014 with the during the research and, for consistency, carried connection to their colleagues in the military assisted in this research. publication of key research, some progress through into this report. However, as will be which continues once they have left. When and areas of good practice have started to be discussed later in the report, our interview Whilst the majority who join HM Armed Forces referring to this ‘family’, quotation marks will introduced regarding veterans in the criminal participants did not generally relate to this term go on to enhance their future life opportunities justice system, including the importance of be used. after military service, there are those who for a and we make recommendations to adopt the taking a holistic approach which extends to term ‘ex-Armed Service Personnel’ or former range of reasons may not fare so well. This less veteran families. However, there is more to be HM Armed Forces fortunate group may have an increased risk of member of the Armed Forces. achieved to ensure a consistent approach across Term to refer to the entirety of Her Majesty’s contact with the criminal justice system and the criminal justice system – for veterans and the resulting impact on family members and Armed Forces (The Army, Royal Air Force and VICSO their families. Royal Navy), also referred to as ‘the military’ children, it is this group that may experience Veteran in Custody Support Officer. the greatest need or vulnerability. and only includes members of the British Armed Forces. After my own transition from military service I began a professional career within the secure Mothers/Partners prison estate. In 2012 I was asked if I believed Female participants consulted as part of this there was a hidden population of ex-military research who are the primary female caregivers personnel within the prison estate. I honestly Steve Lowe for children with a veteran father in custody/ believed that this was not the case. As a prison Manager, North of England recently released. This term includes ex- Security Governor at the time, I was able to Project Nova partners, current partners and wives.

6 7 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Introduction Executive Summary

Why this needs assessment? Barnardo’s has used its experience of supporting Aims of this research • Children of veterans in custody are Over recent years, research has demonstrated children affected by parental offending to There is very limited (and no recent) qualitative likely to have experienced family the need for an increasing emphasis on offenders highlight the key role that maintaining family research which demonstrates the two-fold breakdown maintaining family ties as ‘indispensable to the relationships plays in reducing re-offending. impact of veteran status alongside imprisonment rehabilitation culture’ (Farmer Review Ministry We have published research-based reports on veterans as family members or their families. Our sample revealed a shocking level of of Justice, 2017). As a result, there is a need calling for a family based approach to family This needs assessment will build on the research family breakdown. Only 11 of the 43 (26%) of to understand the complexities of supporting visits and calling for changes to the Incentives that has already been conducted by providing children identified in our sample were living, 1 offender family relationships amongst all and Earned Privileges scheme. a platform for the voices of veterans in custody, or expected to live, with both birth parents when groups. At the same time, there has been their families and children. We seek to establish their fathers were released from custody. The increasing attention on the high numbers of whether the needs of veterans identified in national rate of children aged 0-14 years living veterans in the criminal justice system but the previous studies impacts on family relationships with both parents is 66%. We are aware that voice and experiences of children and families of and the needs of their partners and children and our sample size is relatively small and further veterans in custody is absent. explore how those needs can be met effectively. information would be required to make a general comparison. Breakdown had often occurred In acknowledging this ‘gap’ in evidence, Forces We acknowledge that since the ‘Veterans before the period of custody and begs the in Mind Trust (FiMT) awarded a grant to Transition Review’ undertaken by Lord question about family support during and after Barnardo’s NICCO (National Information Centre Ashcroft (2014), the Ministry of Defence (MOD) active service. Incidents of domestic violence, for Children of Offenders) to undertake a needs has made significant improvements to the mental health and substance misuse all play assessment of male veteran offenders and their transition experience of those who have left HM a part. Participants reflected on the multiple families before, during and after imprisonment Armed Forces in the last 5 years. However our gaps children experienced in their relationships in order to improve the whole families’ outcomes study shines a light on how to build on these during active service and the emotional charge in relation to wellbeing and transitions into and improvements and the issues that those veteran associated with these absences, in terms of out of custody. This needs assessment involves and families who left service prior to these anxiety. Many men had some awareness of the in-depth qualitative research with: veterans improvements are currently experiencing. impact of this, including contrasting pride while in custody (or who have been released from in service and shame while in custody. This custody) who have children with whom they Key Findings finding indicated the challenge of maintaining have permitted contact, the children and families relationships between children and fathers of veterans serving custodial sentences and key • Family experience is cited by veterans when contact is limited and often reliant on professionals from criminal justice, veteran and as influential at key points in their third parties such as grandparents. However, family support agencies. military service out of the 43 children disclosed in the sample, including step children, 32 had contact during Why Barnardo’s? The interconnectivity between military service the custodial sentence. It is noted that telephone and family or relationships with significant contact was high and the ambition of Her Barnardo’s has extensive knowledge of the others within our sample was strong. This Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) impact of parental offending and imprisonment arose at various points such as being motivated to improve technological communication is on the child via our national NICCO service, to join up because they wanted to leave their welcome. We would like to see a more holistic community-based Children Affected by Parental parental home situation, or conversely because early intervention family service being offered Offending (CAPO) support services, prison- they were inspired by family who were serving for veterans and their families. We would based family support services and CAPO or had served. Similarly, our veterans cited a suggest this is funded by the MOD and provided professional training programmes. Barnardo’s desire to return to the family they had created as in collaboration between services specialising in has also gained significant knowledge of the a motivator for leaving the forces. The military family work and veteran support. experiences of families of current and ex-armed itself was frequently referred to as another services personnel through a stakeholder version of ‘family’, providing the kind of close consultation for an application to the Plymouth relationships, loyalty and care that is usually Families in Stress Fund (Armed Forces associated with the traditional family unit. Covenant) and through its Families of Veterans Support Service which operated in Wales. This therefore puts Barnardo’s in the unique position 1. https://b.barnardos.org.uk/just-visiting.pdf to be able to undertake this study. https://b.barnardos.org.uk/locked-out-report.pdf

8 9 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Executive Summary

• Those in greatest difficulty appear to • Veterans and their families are unclear adds a further potential complication in the others in similar circumstances. Peer support have least support who should say what, to whom families’ awareness of potential support and was raised by families as a way to offer each the veteran’s willingness to self-identify. The other support and guidance throughout their A significant number of our sample had been Veterans, partners and children all indicated experiences of our participants indicated that journey before, during and after custody. We discharged following sanction by the military. that they are uncertain about what to say to any approach tended to be at crisis point and would like to see how this model of peer support It was evident that this compromised whom in terms of each other, professionals and/ the sense that veterans were more ‘comfortable’ could be developed and tested for families of any transition planning and in turn, this or others outside the immediate family. Fear with requesting financial support, rather than veterans in custody. ‘punishment’ was also felt by family members. of causing upset, exacerbating the problems, emotional support. There are examples of All veterans we consulted expected to complete showing or appearing to show weakness were good practice, with some prisons identifying • Feedback is positive when services are their full military service and leaving early recurring reasons. There was particular concern specific workers with a specific responsibility to accessed in custody but family support and/or facing dishonourable discharge was for veterans and partners reporting uncertainty support veterans. There is a plethora of military unplanned. Seven veterans were discharged around any restrictions from probation and/ charities, but few specifically support those who is largely absent dishonourably, four of these would be classed as or social services with regard to contact with have offended. In September 2019, ‘Focus On: When challenges are overcome by individuals Early Service Leavers (ESLs). The immediacy children, This meant that some children may Armed Forces Charities in the Criminal Justice to ask for support and by agencies to make 2 of being discharged compromised transition not be having contact they were entitled to, and System’, funded by the Forces in Mind Trust support available, the response from veterans planning and therefore, potentially increased all concerned were dealing with uncertainty shows that just 31 of the UK’s 1,888 Armed was positive but rarely did this include a family their vulnerability, both practically and and emotion around this topic. It is important Forces charities provide criminal justice related dimension. To increase positive outcomes for emotionally in civilian life. This inevitably that where involved, professionals should support to 3,200 veterans each year. We question veterans in custody and their families, consistent impacted on family members. make the first move and that families should be the usefulness of the term veteran and consider and effective support needs to be made available encouraged to be open and honest with their whether an alternative such as ‘ex-Armed to veterans. This should start with profiled • Recording the family situation of children in an age appropriate way. Service Personnel’ (ex-ASP) or ‘former member hours for Veteran in Custody Support Officers, veterans in custody of the armed forces‘ would be more accessible providing adequate time, resources and training • Barriers for families accessing military to this group. Similarly, would reframing the rather than relying on the passion and good It is apparent that neither the prison, who charities services offered from support to something more will of individual staff. This support needs to collect numbers of identified veterans, nor like ‘advice and guidance‘ remove some of the extend to families to check in with their needs the military charities, nor the peer support (Almost) universally, families are reliant on stigma that may be dissuading those in need. and ensure they are made aware of and linked up groups, collect information on dependents ‘their’ veterans to inform them of the support We would want to see more recognition from the to appropriate support. One single agency must or family situation. Whilst many charities available and to be eligible; the veteran’s military military charities of this particularly complex take the lead in coordinating the support and told us they believed they gave assistance to service must be verified. We observed that group, specific outreach to partners and those care of children whose parents are in custody. families, there was no way to ascertain the many veterans do not always identify as such caring for children of veterans in custody, and greater collaboration between support services nature or scale of this support. Similarly it and therefore do not see support services as • Greatest challenge at point of release is very difficult to establish scale or nature applicable to them. This can be because they are and criminal justice agencies to ensure families of need. Thus this group are likely to remain not fully aware of the definition and associate are made aware of support available and to from custody invisible and a comprehensive assessment of the term with either those who have long ensure robust assessment of their situations. After the increased anxiety due to the need is unlikely unless the information about service or those who have experienced active uncertainty of entering custody, many veterans family circumstance is routinely collected. It service. For those who do recognise themselves • Participants would like to see peer find familiarity in the structure and stability is acknowledged that despite many, repeated, as veterans there was an acknowledgement support for both veterans inside prison of the prison environment. This provides an and varied methods to identify family members of concern that, should they reveal this to and families outside in the community opportunity for services to engage with veterans and seek their engagement with this needs criminal justice agencies, this might have at a time where they might be more able to assessment, it proved extremely difficult. While negative repercussions for their relationship Peer support groups for veterans within respond. This uncertainty then builds up again the numbers who did engage are small, their with the military. In addition there remains an custody have been reported as useful to veterans. in the run up to their release, where any support experiences and insights are unique and all association of seeking support and admitting We would like to see this specifically include can rapidly fall away and the sudden change the more valuable for that. We would like to see weakness, which can be a challenging prospect. family issues, recognised formally and replicated in daily routines and impact on family can be mandatory recording introduced and further Even after all this, there has to be a reasonable throughout the prison estate. Family members immensely stressful. Children and partners work undertaken to establish scale and need. relationship between the veteran and the indicated through our study that no one had reported concern that should the veteran begin family. Given the high incidence of previous approached them to enquire how they were to show signs they were not managing, this was partners with children, where the relationship managing and some went on to say how they interpreted as a failure on their part. between the adults’ remains strained, this would appreciate the opportunity to talk with

2. Robson, et al. (2018)

10 11 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Executive Summary

There are indications that a more planned with the family, increasing the risk of family 5. Training 8. “Familiar but not comfortable release from custody with several episodes of breakdown and potentially domestic abuse. Public and third sector professionals that come environments” Release on Temporary Licence was helpful to We recommend that MOD put basic measures into contact with veterans and/or their families Providing spaces for veterans which offer the all family members. The question is posed to in place to facilitate more independent living (e.g. schools, GPs, third sector agencies) to opportunity to reconnect with their military the MOD whether a similar approach is worth and budgeting skills such as: paying for receive training (such as ‘Military Human’ past but also prepare them for their return to also considering and applying to serving Armed monthly rent and bills. We recognise that 3 training programme or alternatives), to ensure the community. Separate veteran wings are a Forces personnel as part of a 1-2 year staged the Government’s Veterans Strategy seeks to wide understanding of the specific culture of positive initiative at larger estates, or a regional transition plan. This should take into account address this need, and welcome the work that military life, transition and possible difficulties. wing for several smaller estates. This includes the needs of the whole family as they collectively is already underway ensure it is met. This training must include experiences of continuing to build on the peer support already prepare for civilian life. families and children and details of support available for veterans in custody but also 2. Staged Transition available. Due to the identified complexity of creating opportunities for family peer support, • Mental health was a consistent, often Transition or ‘decompression’ from and between need, it is essential that safeguarding training for instance, making use of visitor’s centres to unspoken, need military and civilian life, needs to encapsulate is provided to ensure child protection issues are provide support groups. Those in formal peer the psychological transition just as much as monitored and reported. support roles should have access to regular and The most consistent issue vocalised by families the logistical support required. This includes robust training relevant to their role, including was the financial impact of the imposition of a periodical transitions into/out of family life 6. Language safeguarding/family work. custodial sentence. Many families struggled to throughout service and the final transition generate enough income and had to balance Changing the language used around out of the military. Improved communication ‘veterans’ to ‘ex-Armed Service Personnel’ in 9. Asking questions, recording answers childcare with multiple jobs. Underneath between military and community services to acknowledgement that many British veterans do Family circumstances to form part of standard practical and financial needs, there was an facilitate this resettlement for both veterans and not identify as ‘veterans’ and this may preclude assessments for veterans in custody, by both undercurrent of negative emotional impacts, of their families. The MOD should look to fund a them and their family from receiving support. prison (VICSO, veteran representatives, and key mothers working to hold the family together on specific service for dishonourable discharge due The use of the word ‘support’ should also be workers) and charity professionals. Once this the outside which made it almost impossible for to the additional vulnerabilities the immediacy reviewed by services as it seems to create a data is recorded, it is measurable and a clearer them to reflect on the wider impact it was having of this decision can have on veteran, their barrier due to the ideas of weakness that many picture of needs and what support is on offer/ on them. Similar to the veteran’s attitudes of families and children. This could be delivered ‘veterans’ and family members attach to the word. being accessed can be established. not wanting to show weakness, it appeared this in collaboration with partner organisations. was mirrored by partners. Even when there was some acknowledgement, there did not 7. VICSO Services with profiled hours 10. Holistic practice 3. Family preparation appear to be a clear path to take. Professionals Each prison to provide a Veteran in Custody To ensure children and family members’ needs Education and training to be provided to families in the community, teachers, GPs and charity Support Officer with profiled hours dedicated to and wellbeing are supported and safeguarded, of military personnel to understand military life workers need to be upskilled to identify and feel this role. This could be across several members we recommend one organisation takes the lead and vice versa for military personnel. Training confident in asking questions to partners or of staff to ensure consistent support via veteran in coordinating support for the family and/or should start whilst serving and cover the impact children of parents in custody. forums, veteran representatives and external children with a parent in prison. For veterans’ of military life and transition into civilian life, charities. This commitment to profiled hours families, there is huge value to specialist support including possible needs and support services should include joint and recorded work with where the nuances of military culture are available. Relationship support should be funded Recommendations Family Engagement Workers (FEWs), outreach understood alongside expertise in family work. by the military to couples (married or not) to families and standard training, covering This whole-family approach to work needs to 1. Military independence, not dependence throughout their service and years following family work topics such as safeguarding, be assertive and not just sign positing, offering The culture of the military is at odds with their return to civilian life. domestic abuse and parenting. There is also ongoing emotional as well as practical support. civilian culture and this has implications for positive work to be done joining up veteran This should include taking advantage of existing veterans and their families when they return to 4. Alcohol services within regions and VICSO support opportunities/materials4 and creating new civilian society. Military personnel are trained Further research into the prevalence, context across the UK, offering spaces to network, strategies to raise awareness of family support and socialised into a collective mind-set where and support around alcohol misuse within the mutual support and share best practice. available and services pro-actively engaging HM Armed Forces take responsibility for their Forces and the impact this has on families and with families. day-to-day needs. This culture opposes the children. Re-framing and education around the individual mind-set of civilian society. Due to definition of ‘problematic alcohol use’ in relation the young age many people enter the military, to the wider impact alcohol use and ensuing they are not able to ‘switch’ back into a mentality behaviour has on military personnel/veterans that they have never developed and this conflicts 3 https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/courses/professional-and- 4. https://www.nicco.org.uk/directory-of-resources and their family and children. short-courses/military-human/the-military-human- military-culture--transition/

12 13 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Executive Summary Section One Research & Policy Context 11. Shared Learning 13. Paid opportunities for peer support There is a key opportunity for the MOD and Military charities offering paid roles for veterans HMPPS to share learning and strategies around released from custody to provide support/ military and custodial resettlement. Adopting mentoring to veterans in custody. This would strategies which consider the practical and increase representation of Service experience psychological impact for veterans and their in military charities and ensure consistency families, with an opportunity for gradual of services, training and documentation re-integration back into family life and across regions. to increase the chances of positive family relationships in the community. 14. Continued research In acknowledgement of the limited information 12. Joint ‘through the gate’ practice we have on the experiences of families post- This would be reinforced by established VICSO release, further research should be undertaken services with profiled hours (Recommendation to understand the short and long-term 7), enabling VICSOs to offer formalised impacts of criminal justice on families and support for veterans between custody and the family relationships when the veteran parent community. This coordinated support should returns home. extend to families by joint working with and between probation, regional Armed Forces Covenant groups, the police, military charities, children’s services and/or other community services/specialist support. This multi-agency working ensures clear communication and shared support planning, acknowledging the expertise and role of each agency.

14 15 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section One Research & Policy Context

As part of this needs assessment, In Lord Ashcroft’s review it was recognised 1.2 Research Context financial wellbeing (Smith et al., 2007), and a thorough review of current literature that some veterans struggle with transition. social isolation (Jones & Wainaina-Wozna, 2013; Previously in 2009, the MOD and the National 1.2.1 Offending and Family Ties Smith et al, 2007). Therefore, there is evidence was undertaken to evidence the need Offender Management Service formalised a There is increasing evidence relating to the that a reciprocal benefit exists to families, for further research (see bibliography support service for Veterans in Custody (the importance of family ties in supporting the particularly children, visiting fathers in prison for a full reference list). In this section, VICs scheme). This initiative was developed rehabilitation of offenders and reduction in (Fair & Jacobson, 2016). we consider the existing policy by Mr Nick Wood, a veteran who, at the time, the risk of reoffending (Markson et al, 2015; was a serving prison officer. The establishment Brunton-Smith & McCarthy, 2017 and Lord 1.2.2 Veterans in Custody context and a summarised version of the VICs scheme lead to the development Farmer, 2017). Lord Farmer stated that positive Although the majority of veterans will transition of the literature review. of a guide to supporting ex-Armed Service contact with friends and families is ‘key to out of the military successfully, there is a small Personnel in custody with a guide to support rehabilitation and reducing intergenerational cohort who become involved in the criminal its implementation (Phillips, 2014). However, offending’ (2017:18). justice system. Former members of the Armed 1.1 Policy Context as this was government guidance rather than Forces constitute one of the largest occupational It has only been in recent years that the support legislation the scheme has not been established In addition to this, there is a growing body groupings in prisons in the UK (The Howard and care of veterans and those leaving HM Armed consistently across all prisons. At the most of research concerned with the impact of League for Penal Reform [HLPR], 2011) with Forces has been formalised into government recent count, 80 out of the 118 prison estates offending on families. Glover (2009) explains estimates of between 3.5% (DASA, 2010) and 6% policy. The Armed Forces Covenant (2011) a in the UK have an established VICs scheme 8. the challenges faced by children with a father in (HMIP, 2014) of the prison population. Between promise from the nation that those who serve prison are greater than those faced by the parent 2012 and 2019, based on 190 reports collected or have served in the armed forces, and their In the same year as Lord Ashcroft’s review, a left behind, because not only are they facing from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, families, are treated fairly5. Now every Local government review of veterans in the criminal the stigma and the reduction in finances but 6.07% of the male prison population identified Authority on the British mainland has signed justice system was undertaken by Stephen they also take on a support role to that parent, as ex-Armed Forces10. As a result there has been it, in support of their veteran communities Phillips QC MP (2014). Among the many face bullying and have to wrestle with emotions a significant amount of academic interest into (Ministry of Defence, 2016). recommendations made, the need to capture pertaining to grief and anger. Rosenberg (2009) and record whether an offender served in the reflects on the UN Convention on the Rights the characteristics and needs of this particular In 2014 a review was conducted by Lord Ashcroft Armed Forces at every professional intervention of the Child when discussing the child’s rights group, as well as evidence gathered through to determine what improvements could be made in the criminal justice system was highlighted. the delivery of veteran-targeted support to have contact with their imprisoned parent, 11 to the provision for those leaving the Armed Following this report, it was included as as long as it is in the child’s best interest; but programmes in custody . Forces and their transition to ‘civvy’ street. standard on the Basic Custody Screening Tool also highlights that paternal involvement in a Problems with social exclusion and isolation, He recommended improved co-ordination of for newly arrived offenders across all prison child’s life can benefit the child’s development. finance and alcohol issues have been cited information on voluntary sector support for estates (MOJ, 2015). This is reiterated by the Centre for Social Justice (HLPR, 2011) as triggering a downward spiral veterans. As a result, the MOD has created a (2017:6) highlighting the links between ‘active into criminality. Early childhood trauma, Service Leavers Guide (2018), detailing support In 2018, the government’s ‘Strategy for our 9 father engagement and improved childhood difficulties during service (e.g. physical or for immediate transition and beyond; in which Veterans’ identified ‘Veterans and the Law’ outcomes, particularly educational achievement’. mental health issues) and/or problems post- numerous helpline numbers and websites for as a key area in which veterans need support. Forces are evident amongst veterans in custody charities are listed, including the ‘Veterans’ The strategy document acknowledges that Losing a parent to the criminal justice system (HLPR, 2011; HMIP, 2014). Gateway’6. Assessment tools have also been those veterans that do enter the criminal justice constitutes an Adverse Childhood Experience 7 system are often the most vulnerable and developed, such as HARDFACTs , and are used (ACE’s) and can affect a family’s financial There are significantly higher numbers of present with complex needs. by the military as well as community agencies wellbeing, housing, relationships, childcare veterans serving longer sentences for violent or to support veterans in transitioning. arrangements and often leads to increased sexually related crimes than the general offender sense of stigma and isolation (Sutherland and population (MacManus et al, 2013; Fossey et al, Wright, 2017). In the context of ACE’s, a review 2017; Kelly, 2014; HLPR, 2011). by Murray & Farrington (2005) found that 65% of prisoners’ sons went on to offend themselves; highlighting an intergenerational cycle element 10. Based on analysis conducted by Steve Lowe of 5 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/armed- 8. Information provided by the HMPPS Co-Financing to offending and the ongoing impact on HMPPS Project Nova; the question asked by HMIP was not forces-covenant-supporting-information Organisation on 08/11/19. services. Further research has demonstrated specific to HM Armed Forces, so is likely to include 6. https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/ 9. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ veterans from outside the UK. 7. https://www.army.mod.uk/personnel-and-welfare/ government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ a significant impact on: school attendance and 11. Such as the SToMP project in Wales, The Phoenix service-leavers-veterans/transition-to-civilian-life/ data/file/755915/Strategy_for_our_Veterans_ attainment (Clewett & Glover, 2009) children’s Project delivered by Care after Combat, Project Nova FINAL_08.11.18_WEB.pdf mental health (Jones & Wainaina-Wozna, 2013), in the North/North East of England.

16 17 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section One Section Two Research & Policy Context Methodology

Alcohol misuse has been linked as a contributory 1.2.4 Veterans in Custody and their Families factor to violent crime (Lyne & Packham, 2014) There is limited research regarding the family- and lower military rank a predictor (MacManus support needs of veterans in custody and their et al, 2013). Poor mental health, particularly families. One of the only references to the needs depression, is also worsened by alcohol misuse of families is cited in the report by the Howard (Phillips, 2014) and large numbers of veterans League for Penal Reform (2011:49) in a case present with symptoms of poor mental health study on the charity Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen on entry to prison with higher numbers and Families Association (SSAFA): ‘the charity reporting suicidal thoughts (HMIP, 2014) than suggested to the inquiry that the problems the general prison population. Higher levels which SSAFA have identified through their of other mental health issues such as Post prison work appear to be as much to do with Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are also the families left at home, as a result of former prevalent within the veteran prison population service personnel offending, as with the needs (Lyne & Packham, 2014). of the prisoners themselves.’ There is no further detail provided however, about the nature of the 1.2.3 The Military and Family Relationships families’ needs. There is some evidence that highlights the challenges associated with maintaining family 1.2.5 Support Available relationships for active Service men and women There is a significant amount of support (Fossey et al, 2017 and HLPR, 2011). Although available to veterans from a myriad of Armed these studies do not refer to the additional Forces and veterans’ charities. A small number pressure of separation once a veteran is serving of charities provide services to veterans in a custodial sentence. Phillips’ (2014) review also custody (Cooper et al., 2018). However, this highlighted the incidences of domestic violence is not uniformly delivered across the prison within veteran families and stated ‘families pay a estate (HMIP, 2014) and it is potentially on the price for service by their loved ones in the Armed decline (Robson, Cole & Doherty, 2019). Both Forces. For some, that price clearly continues The Royal British Legion (RBL) and the SSAFA once service has come to an end’ (2014:13). provide support to families while veterans are A small number of studies have touched on the in prison. Additionally, there are several smaller role of family in transition for veterans and their local charities, some of which were formed part in mitigating the risk of poor mental health in response to the Armed Forces Covenant; or alcohol misuse (The Futures Company, 2013; but their remits generally cover a small Centre for Social Justice, 2016). The impact of geographic area. They work similarly to provide transition out of the military on families, in terms individualised support to meet the needs of the of financial wellbeing, school experience and veteran and in some cases those of the family mental health has also been reported (Diehle et al, too. These charities will only work with a veteran 2016; Fear et al, 2018; Albertson et al, 2017). (and their families where applicable) once their service record has been verified (Phillips, 2014). More recently, the mental health experiences of partners of veterans suffering from Issues around identification (Phillips, 2014, military PTSD have been evidenced in HMIP, 2014), pride (Fossey et al, 2017: HLPR, research (Murphy et al., 2016) and subsequent 2011), lack of awareness and stigma (The treatment programmes such as ‘The Together Futures Company, 2013) have been argued to Programme’12 run by Combat Stress. be significant barriers to veterans and their families accessing available support.

12. https://www.combatstress.org.uk/file/6680/ download?token=IIfK9EYc

18 19 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Two Methodology

2.1 Methods recruitment material were approved by our • Professionals working in public and third – for 4 of the partners interviewed, their From July 2018 – February 2020, Forces in members, and where possible, members sector agencies that either work specifically children were also interviewed and included Mind Trust funded Barnardo’s to undertake a coordinated consultation with frontline with or come into regular contact with in our sample practitioners and veterans in custody. Our veterans in the criminal justice system and/or needs assessment of veterans in custody, their • 5 children were interviewed families and children. Two research officers findings were shared at regular intervals with their families. – 3 individual interviews and 1 joint interview were employed to work on this project, with one the whole steering group and final report draft sent to a select number of members for feedback We adopted multiple strategies to identify with two siblings taking the lead in conducting, analysing and potential participants. For veteran participants, before being finalised. – all were the biological children of the father writing up the research. our main method of identification was via in custody/recently released Research was focussed in the South West and All interviews were anonymised (using coding) VICSOs and in a small number of cases, and audio recorded with written consent from community services/military charity – all 5 children would consider their father as West Midlands, covering a variety of prison their primary male caregiver categories and types (local remand prisons, participants and transcribed verbatim. Notes professionals. For families and veterans in open prisons and sexual offender prison estates). from informal discussions were also recorded the community, we developed recruitment • 25 professionals from a range of community/ This geographical remit was in part due to such as veteran forums, and researcher’s material (leaflets and posters) which were sent criminal justice agencies, from practitioner to Barnardo’s pre-existing links with prisons in reflections included as part of our data. A to community/prison services to advertise in senior management. This included 2 Veteran these regions, but mainly due to the time and thematic analysis was undertaken while data direct access areas and/or to pass onto service Representatives (veterans serving custodial resource restrictions on the project. However, collection continued and then final themes users. We also advertised the research online sentences acting as peer mentors) who were it was decided that where relevant work specific collated at the end of this period utilising NVIVO via the NICCO website and Veteran’s Gateway interviewed in relation to their roles and were to the themes of the project was identified software. A quantitative analysis was conducted as well as in the Inside Times. We attended a not eligible for the veteran sample. outside of these regions, we would undertake a of the quantifiable data received from interviews select number of prison visits centres in person limited number of interviews with participants. to act as a baseline for the discussion such as to advertise the research and identify potential • A total of 19 prisons were contacted in the participant demographics, levels of contact, level candidates. Despite these alternative methods, South West and West Midlands, and 1 in This needs assessment is predominantly of need and support accessed. Five case studies family members were predominantly identified Wales. 16 of these prisons responded and a qualitative analysis of data collected demonstrating the good practice of specific following interviews with the father. provided a point of contact for our researchers utilising a mixed methodology. A desk based agencies have also been included throughout to liaise with. Interviews were conducted in 9 literature review was conducted to support the report. As aforementioned, our primary geographical of these prisons and significant contact was ethical applications. We used semi-structured focus was within the South West and West made with a further 4 (including interviewing Midlands. However, during the course of the interviews to consult with participants 2.2 Sample professionals, attending veteran forums/ research, in response to challenges in identifying visitors centres) but did not result in veteran/ (Appendix 2). Interviews with children Sampling was subject to the following set of participants and a desire to capture best practice, family interviews13. were adapted according to their age, and inclusion criteria for the needs assessment: participatory research methods (Appendix 3) a small number of interviews were conducted with families and professionals outside of these • We did not conduct any formal focus groups were used to provide a safe and indirect way for • Veterans who are serving, or who have areas, in Wales and the North West. as was initially intended. Instead, we attended young children to talk about their experiences. recently completed, a custodial sentence in veteran forums on 4 occasions across 4 In addition to interviews, our Research Officers prison, who have children under the age of 18 Our final sample breakdown (section 3 will prisons and facilitated an informal discussion, attended various professional meetings and and who have permitted contact with those explore their characteristics in more detail) was: noting down generalised comments and veterans forums within prison estates. This children under the terms of their sentence observations by hand. Two of these forums enabled wider understanding of the topic and and/or under the terms of any children’s • 18 veterans in total were interviewed, 16 were for veterans classed as ‘vulnerable observation of work in practice to support services involvement; whether they have serving custodial sentences and 2 based in prisoners’ (predominantly convicted of sexual veterans in custody/community, their families contact or not. the community, released within the last 12 and children. months offences or in sexual offender prisons) and 2 • Current or ex-partners of veterans that meet for veterans based in the main prison estate. The project was overseen by an expert steering the criteria above as long as they are the • 5 partners group, made up of senior professionals from primary care-giver of the veterans’ child(ren). – all were in current relationships with public and charity sector agencies, including the father; • Children from 5-18yrs whose father has served HMPPS (see Appendix 1 for full list). From – for 4 of the partners, their partner was September 2018 – December 2019, we met for a period of time previously in HM Armed also interviewed and included in our 13. This was generally due to the VICSO reporting that on 7 occasions to seek support, advice and Forces and also serving or has served recently a custodial sentence in prison. veteran sample; there were no veterans currently in their estate or expertise from our members. Our methods that the veterans in custody were not eligible or not of identification, research methods and willing to engage.

20 21 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Two Methodology

The vast majority of the interviews were face-to- the remaining prison had a health care worker Although it was not a requisite in terms of our those that worked specifically with veterans in face interviews, with a small number completed who was the wife and mother of armed forces eligibility criteria, all the veterans and partners custody, in order that we might interview them. via telephone. We did also publish online surveys personnel. This therefore indicates that some interviewed referred to being in heterosexual This therefore was not only a barrier to our as an option to participate. However, there was offer of support to veterans was available in each relationships. We did not include a question researchers but potentially to veteran families only 1 response received, which was incomplete of these establishments. One prison contacted around sexuality as part of our interview so we seeking support or to VICSOs supporting and not included in our sample. that did not have a VICSO stated that they did cannot concretely state that all our interviewees veterans in custody to identify external support. not have any identified veterans. It is possible identified as heterosexual. Prior to commencing interviews, we conducted that the absence of a VICSO or any identified Finally, all Barnardo’s professionals involved in a pilot interview with a veteran father and his support might deter veterans from identifying In a large number of cases the veterans in this research, including two research officers, partner. Neither fulfilled the eligibility criteria themselves. custody who were interviewed had experienced were white females, aged between 30 – 50 years so were not included in the final sample, but relationship breakdown. Therefore, it was old. Neither researcher had direct military provided feedback on the interview structure In terms of ‘family relationships’ this research difficult to make contact with former partners experience. These personal attributes are likely and questions. focuses solely on the nuclear family unit (i.e. and children of a number of the veteran to have impacted the information given by parents and children) and is not exploring the participants. This can be seen as an indicative participants. 2.3 Limitations and Challenges impact on extended family relationships which outcome as well as a limitation and something may also support successful rehabilitation such that will be discussed further in the following All the veterans interviewed identified 2.4 Ethics as siblings of veterans in custody. sections. As a result, the sample of partners themselves as such at some point in their In order to undertake this research, we and children included in this report are all criminal justice journey and therefore we complied with internal and external ethical Most of the children interviewed had been from families who would describe themselves were only able to obtain anecdotal reasoning processes including: Barnardo’s Research Ethics born after their father had left the Armed as being ‘together’. for non-identification. Forces and therefore could only really relate Committee, the National Research Council for to the absence of their father while he served The lack of publicity by some agencies, HMPPS and Help for Heroes. Acknowledging existing research findings that a custodial sentence. particularly military charities, to advertise their sexual offences make up a high proportion of criminal justice work made it difficult to identify offences committed by veterans in custody, our criteria for fathers to have ‘permitted’ contact with their children significantly restricts the participation of veterans convicted for sexual offences in our study as it is reasonable to assume that many will have child contact restrictions in place. However, it is important to note that a small number of veterans without permitted contact with some or all their children are included in our sample, as this information transpired throughout the course of the interviews.

Our study is also limited by its focus on the male HMP estate only. Whilst we acknowledge that there are also veterans in the women’s estate, the majority of veterans in custody are in the male estate and the restricted resource and time allocated to this project dictated that the study would focus on the male estate only.

All the prisons in which interviews were undertaken had an identified member of staff who worked with veterans as part of their role, a VICSO. In all but one case this was a prison officer who was a veteran themselves;

22 23 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Three Section Three Characteristics of our sample Characteristics of our sample of Veterans in Custody, their of Veterans in Custody, their Families and Children Families and Children

In this section, we provide a • None of the partners or children interviewed breakdown of the characteristics of identified as having a disability. However, one child identified as having a diagnosis of our interview sample of veterans in anxiety through the course of the interview. custody (16)14, ex-offender veterans in the community (2), partners (5) and 3.2 Family Breakdown was common, children (5). The aim of this section is with veterans having multiple to focus on outlining the demographic children by multiple partners. make-up of our sample who informed • 9 out of 18 veterans identified as ‘single’, 4 as the findings of this research. ‘partner’, 2 ‘divorced’ and 3 ‘married’. 4 out of those identified as ‘single’, advised during the interview that they have partners. 3.1 Age, ethnicity and identified disability of veterans, partners • 47 children in total were disclosed, ranging and children from 0 – 26 years old with all but one veteran fathering between 2-3 children (exception of • Veteran ages: 21-30 (4), 31-40 (9) and 41-50 (5) one veteran with 5 children). This includes 4 • Partners’ ages: 21-30 (1), 31-40 (2) and 41-50 (2) step-children and children with ex-partner(s).

• Childrens’ ages: 5-10 (4) and 11-15 (1) • In terms of the criteria for this research, 43 children were between 0-18 years old, • In terms of ethnicity, veterans identified as: including 4 step-children. White British (12), British (1), White Welsh (1), 15 Mixed (2), Black British (1) and Fijian (1). • At the time of writing , 11 or 26% of the 43 children, (including 2 step-children) were • All partners and children interviewed reported to live or expected to live at home identified as White British with the veteran in custody on their release. Based on biological children (39) only 9 or • 12 veterans did not identify as having a 23% of children reported by our sample lived disability (mental and physical) and 8 did or expected to live at home with both parents (3 x PTSD, 3 x dyslexia, 1 x partial hearing, and these were all aged 2 – 13 years old. It is 1 x PTSD and emotionally unstable personality interesting to note that this is much lower disorder). However, 8 out of the 12 who initially than the figures reported in the UK, where the answered ‘no’ made reference to experiencing OECD reports that two thirds or 66% of children depression, anxiety and undiagnosed aged 0-14 years old live with both parents16. symptoms of PTSD (sleep problems, flashbacks and nightmares) through the course of the consultation. Only 5 reported to have 15. 2 children were not included as their father had been experienced no mental health issues. released and currently living away from their home whilst undergoing a social services assessment. 14. This does not include one veteran who was not If successful, the plan was for him to return to the interviewed himself, but his partner was interviewed. family home. This additional veteran is only included when 16. Lord Farmer (2019). The Golden Thread? Families, referring to the children/family e.g. when discussing Prisons and Therapeutic Communities in Prison levels of contact. Service Journal, 241: 3-10, Pg. 4

24 25 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Three Characteristics of our sample of Veterans in Custody, their Families and Children

• 33 children were reported to have a • 17 served in The Army, 1 in the Royal Air Force • 6 would be classed as ‘Early Service Leavers’, 3.6 Contact with children in custody significant17 amount of contact with their and 0 in the Royal Navy18. Infantry were by far serving 4 years or less. father prior to their custodial sentence, and the majority and the highest rank reached was • 14 out of 18 veterans had contact with at least 29 were reported to expect a similar level Sergeant. • Time between discharge and custody ranged one of their children during their custodial of contact to resume once their father was from 1 veteran being sentenced days after sentence. This included face-to-face visits, released. This includes 5 children whose • 12 completed operational tours, completing leaving the military, and 1 entering custody phone calls and/or letters. fathers were already released and at home between 1 and 6+, including Northern 26yrs after leaving. • 25 out of 43 children had face-to-face contact (3) or having regular supervised contact Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Sierra Leone, with their fathers/step-fathers at some point whilst a social services assessment was being Congo, Afghanistan and Syria. 6 did not see 3.5 The majority were serving their during their custodial sentence. This ranged completed (2). active combat. first custodial sentence and offences from weekly face-to-face visits or once or twice • 2 of the veterans interviewed lived on military came under three categories: violence a month/year. For children of ex-partners, 3.3 All bar one veteran interviewed barracks with their families. The families of the against the person, sexual offences these visits were facilitated by the ex-partner served in The Army, with an average remaining 16, lived in the civilian community and drug offences. themselves, paternal grandparents or the length of service of 7 years. with the veteran visiting in varying levels of father’s current partner. frequency depending on whether the family • Majority (10) of offences were violence against was still together at the time and the location the person (section 18, section 20, firearms • Phone contact was the most frequently and Diagram 1: Breakdown of regiments of their work in the UK/abroad. or stalking & harassment), drug offences widely used method of contact, with 32 out served for participants who served in (4, 1 combined with section 20) and sexual of 43 children receiving phone and/or letter The Army offences (3). 3.4 On average, the length of military contact (including all 25 who received service was 7 years, with an average • 11 out of the 18, or 61%, were first time face-to-face contact). of 6.9 years between leaving the offenders. This is much higher than the • It was reported that 12 children (including military and serving their custodial general prison population where first time 1 step-child) did not have any contact with offenders account for less than 8% of the prison their father/step-father. The reasons given for sentence. 19 population in England and Wales . this included: relationship breakdown with • Length of service ranged from 2 – 22 years, • 4 reported serving 2 or more previous the mother, short sentence length, difficulties with an average of 7 years. custodial sentences. in arranging visits (communication, finances) • Reasons for leaving the military came under: or uncertainty regarding permitted contact • 3 reported committing crime when they were (this was often unclear to the father). – Dishonourable discharge (7): drugs, violence, younger but with no criminal convictions. going absent without leave (or AWOL) to escape charges or to avoid going back on tour. • 3 veterans reported serving time in the Military 20 – Voluntary resignation (6): focussing on new Corrective Training Centre . Out of these 3, family/partner, lack of promotion in the two were detained for 28 days for being AWOL Forces, lack of active combat. and the third was detained briefly before being moved to civilian prison. All three were – Redundancy (1) 1.6% Royal Tank 1.6% Royal Signals discharged from the military following their Regiment – Medical Discharge (2) 1.6% Royal Artillery detention. 11.64% Infantry – Administrative Discharge (2) 1.6% Medical Corps 19. https://www.civitas.org.uk/content/files/ 2.12% Royal Engineers whogoestoprison.pdf 18. This high number of Army veterans is reflected in 20. A detention centre providing corrective training existing research, such as HLPR (2011) which found for servicemen and women who have violated identified veterans across the prison estate were military rules, in some cases this may lead to a civil 17. Significant here refers to regular and extended largely ex-Army (77%), followed by 15% Royal Navy conviction where detainees will be discharged from periods of contact. and 8% Royal Air Force. the military and moved to a civilian prison.

26 27 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Three Characteristics of our sample of Veterans in Custody, their Families and Children

3.7 Overview of veteran support needs before, during and after custody • The needs of veterans at different stages of the criminal justice system will be discussed in detail throughout this report. This diagram provides a comparative overview of needs before, during and after custody.

Diagram 2: Support needs overall

0 Housing Employment Mental Physical Substance Finances Family/ Contact Health Health Misuse Relationship with children Before During After

28 29 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section ThreeFour Section Four CharacteristicsNeeds of veterans, of ourfamilies sample and Needs of veterans, families and childrenof Veterans – BEFORE in Custody, custody their children – BEFORE custody Families and Children The primary focus of this section is the The majority entered the military between the spiral into custody and the needs of ages of 15 and 19 years old. The military was described as offering job security and career veterans/families during this time. progression not generally available in other For the 18 veterans, this spiral forms of employment. This was also expressed occurred many years after leaving in terms of identity; that this employment was the military and the families and unique in offering a sense of pride and respect. children were not present during the “I’ve never really found anything that gave veteran’s military service. However, me the same all-round good feeling about we start by briefly reflecting on the myself, and also I don’t think I’ve ever met veterans’ childhoods, their decisions an employer that invests in you the way the to join the military and experiences military does. You know the military gets you through the door and says no matter of the military which continued into who you are you’ve got the same chance their transition to civilian life. Much as anyone else…” of what is discussed corroborates (Veteran in Custody) existing research and intends to set the framework for understanding how “…it’s a sense of purpose isn’t it, for me veterans past experiences go onto anyway, and I think it’s probably the same for a lot of the blokes. Put the uniform on impact their family and children. and you feel like a superhero… you walk straight, stand up chest out, it’s pride 4.1 The decision to join isn’t it.” All veterans interviewed, including those in a (Veteran in Custody) professional capacity, cited family connection as a key motivating factor for joining the military. “It was something to be proud of, everybody For example, having a father, grandfather or was proud of you, everything…you were brother in the military or related profession proud of it, even though it was hard.” (e.g. police force). (Veteran in Custody)

Veterans referred to the military providing Many veterans referred to joining the military ‘direction’, a sense of purpose and belonging. as an active decision to avoid going down the “I did lack direction as a youngster and with ‘wrong path’. For most, this was in response to that lack of direction, I didn’t know where a lack of employment opportunities, and high levels of violence, criminality and/or substance to go, what to do and in the end, I thought, misuse in their wider community. ‘Do you know what – Army.’ Where a lot of young adults would end up going if they feel they haven’t got anywhere to belong.” (Veteran in Custody)

30 31 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Four Needs of veterans, families and children – BEFORE custody

“…I think I felt myself going so far off the “I think for me really, it was getting out 4.2 The first transition – military However, this loss of military ‘family’ was often rails at a young age, I was already starting of home, it was getting away, it gave my to civilian life paralleled with the gain of a biological family upon leaving. Family, in a biological sense, was to break the law and get up to no good. everything, it gave me a place to live, Veteran and families’ experiences of the frequently cited as a key reason for deciding Although I hadn’t been arrested or caught, money, skills, it covered everything.” transition from military to civilian life varied to leave the military, generally in relation to I was getting very close to that. I thought (Veteran in Custody) widely depending on factors such as: length of spending less time away from the family home. ‘I really can’t go down this road’ so I made military service, reason for leaving the military the choice at 18 to join the forces.” “It’s always been difficult for me growing and the length of time in between leaving and “I personally believe I think I just was (Veteran in Custody) up cos I’ve grown up around domestics with entering the CJS. Although the wide variety of missing out on what everyone else was doing my mum. She was in between blokes here, experiences makes it hard to generalise, there and I was never at home, never at home. were shared themes in relation to what they “I was kind of mixing in with the wrong blokes there and we was moving around. Obviously I had my kids and that and I was crowd, I think I was a bit more intelligent I always grew up around drink, drugs and missed from military life, the impact of military socialisation and how their expectations met rarely at home and when I did have weekends and didn’t really want to go the road that domestic... I took myself away from that off I didn’t used to go home anyway to be they were going down because we went from joining the Army.” with the reality of civilian life. Many of the families were not present when the father left honest, I used to just stay at camp and get building dens and playing football in the (Veteran in Custody) the military but nonetheless, they were impacted drunk to be honest, it’s part of life in the street, making go-carts together to as we by many of the legacies of military life. army. And then I’d get it in the neck and then got older started robbing post offices and Joining the military to escape difficult home or community life was raised by a VICSO, it would just deter me from going home even things, it started escalating, so I got out a veteran himself: 4.2.1 ‘Family’ bonds more, and then just, don’t know, I don’t know of there as quick as I could, away from my what led me to leave. I think it’s probably mum, to start a new life.” “…they’re recruiting, a lot of people that Veterans reported that the military provided a come through here [prison]…are infantry sense of camaraderie and ‘family’ for them and because I wanted to be a proper dad and then (Veteran in Custody) and they’re from up north, a lot of them join this was lost when leaving the military. This when I left I didn’t know how to be a proper A small number of veterans referred to the armed forces up there to escape the law, ranged from the familiarity of military language dad anyway you know…” and humour to the trust and bond held between personally being involved in criminality from to escape deprivation from where they were (Veteran in Custody) military personnel. a young age as well as adverse experiences in living etc.” the family home such as divorce, alcoholism, This apparent benefit of leaving is interesting (Professional) “I miss everything, I miss my friends, I childhood abuse, domestic abuse and parental considering these families often fell apart, some miss having a purpose, definitely having quite rapidly following the father’s departure loss. In cases where these issues were identified, From this perspective, for those veterans who a purpose…I miss the camaraderie, miss from the military. Other, perhaps more negative, they were often minimalised and perceived as have experienced difficulties throughout their reasons for leaving included (and often ‘normal’. This may have led to other veterans childhood, the military can act as a positive having someone to talk to, I miss having… overlapped); redundancy, limited progression, not considering it worthy of mentioning, and decision to take them away from situations I just miss having that brotherhood…” lack of combat, too much combat or being forced therefore this information would not have been which are likely to lead to negative or criminal (Veteran in Custody) to leave due to misconduct (e.g. drug use or captured in this research. activity. It is important to highlight the violent behaviour). MOD’s duty of care to assess the needs of new “I miss so much – the camaraderie, “Childhood weren’t bad, my dad were, recruits in order to offer ongoing support and something about the lads in the forces, 4.2.2 Legacies of military life I used to get battered by my dad…not just accountability throughout and beyond their you do form this brotherhood and it is get hit with hands, I got hit with all sorts… military service. For example, research21 has used a lot, a brotherhood of the people.” We know that there are many positive legacies my mum left my dad when I were…about shown that if a member of the Armed Forces (Veteran in Custody) of military service and for this reason; the vast 11 or 12. Because my dad used to beat has experienced violence in their childhood and majority of veterans have positive experiences my mum up so enough were enough, adolescence, and has then gone on to perpetrate “…that level of trust…I knew that everybody upon leaving. Here however we consider some she had enough.” violence pre-enlistment, they are more likely to that was going through a door behind me of the negative legacies which participants felt carry that through to discharge, particularly as lead to difficulties upon their transition into (Ex-offender Veteran in the Community) or coming out of a vehicle behind me, was the military have utilised those tendencies and behind me, I did not need to look back. civilian life. honed them to become combat-ready. I’ve not had that feeling for a long time” 21. Banks & Alberston, 2017; MacManus et al, 2013. (Veteran in Custody)

32 33 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Four Needs of veterans, families and children – BEFORE custody

1) Lack of independent living skills This was primarily linked to difficulties with finances, as when in the military; all their rent The impact of ‘institutionalisation’ in military and bills (including child maintenance) were service and the dependence this creates has paid before receiving their salary. For those that been acknowledged in existing research22 as entered the military straight from leaving their leading to a lack of knowledge or experience family home, this meant they “bypassed” this in independent living skills. For example, important part of civilian adult life. budgeting and managing funds, and maintaining payments for accommodation “…he was so young when he joined The risks developing issues with debt and even Army and those sort of late teen-through homelessness (CSJ, 2014). your twenties years, when everyone else Our participants’ responses reinforced these is learning how to pay bills, learning how findings, and described the military ‘family’ to move out of their mum and dads house as providing hierarchy, routine and structure and stand on your own two feet, and be where basic needs such as rent, food and bills independent and budget your money, were taken care of. they completely bypass all of that.” “…you have structure. So when I came out I (Partner) didn’t have a structure, you get taught what “2015 when I got back from Iraq I hadn’t “Millionaire[‘s] weekend…that was “[After active combat]…you’d have a week to do and everything’s done for you…” paid tax since 1999, I’ve never paid a bill in something that happened quite regularly. where they’d order you to go out and get (Veteran in Custody) my whole life.” Very rarely would I manage to make a drunk, that’s what they’d say, go and get “I think it’s that structure that a lot of people (Veteran Representative) month’s wages last anything near a month, pissed. And you’d all be fighting amongst leaving The Army struggle with. They fail “I’ve always been really bad with money. mine would be gone within 2 weeks, tops. yourselves, because that’s how you’d get because they rely on things being done for Always in debt, always living way beyond my I’d be lucky to have anything left by the your emotions out, and then you’d go home.” them and when they have to rely on doing means, and that’s a military trait that you end of the first week, really bad.” (Veteran in Custody) things for themselves and they have to stick struggle with because you just see money in (Veteran in Custody) “…I used to drink, everyone used to to a routine themselves that’s when it seems the bank and I presume it’s mine, it’s nobody Whilst they are still in the military, they can drink, but it’s never been a problem, to fall apart a bit…” else’s. I’m not used to having to pay the rent spend this how they please but this is a different I can get smashed up with the lads for a (Veteran in Custody) or the bills and it was always done for me in matter once they return to civilian life. couple of days and then not touch it again the past” “…you go from having a structure, being for months.” (Veteran in Custody) 2) Alcohol use told what to do…everything you know what (Veteran in Custody) you’re doing in your day-to-day...you go As shown in this last quote, the consequence Many of our participants reported using their Although most participants recalled high levels from that to, shit “what do I do?”, I’ve got of the military taking financial care of serving salary to buy alcohol to participate in the 23 of alcohol use and recognised this being a nothing, no job, no support, no help…that’s personnel is that the money that arrives in their drinking culture of military life . This could big part of military culture, very few veterans when it goes wrong.” accounts is largely disposable. Many reported involve going several months without drinking, classed their alcohol use as problematic as they spending huge amounts of money in a very short for example, when on operational tours, (Veteran in Custody) claimed they could stop at any time, go long space of time: but would be followed by intense periods of drinking. periods without drinking and/or did not wake up and need a drink.

23. The prevalence of alcohol use in the military has been widely acknowledged in existing research, such as Kings Centre for Military Health Research – 22. Thomas et al., (2018); CSJ, (2014). https://www.kcl.ac.uk/kcmhr

34 35 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Four Needs of veterans, families and children – BEFORE custody

“...he thought for a long time that he wasn’t 3) Self-sufficiency “I went nuts looking for a job. The “…a chap who had been in the military an alcoholic because he wouldn’t wake up in Although there may be a lack of independence pressures of people…I’ve gone from having had applied for a hundred jobs quoting his the morning and have a drink. There’s like within the military, this is fostered alongside responsibilities that are above and beyond military service and didn’t get an interview. more to it than that because it was secret being trained to be self-sufficient; to deal with this country’s ever seen to being told, you So he took the military service out and got drinking with him, and binge drinking more any problems yourself, ‘crack on’ and not ask are nothing, you need to get a job in Costa” a job within a week.” than anything, but he thought that because for help. (Veteran in Custody) (Professional) he could wake up and wait until after dinner to have a drink then he didn’t have “[You] come out with a culture that we are “There’s no job prospects, a lot of people “And then really, the reality of leaving a problem with it.” told to keep your mouth shut and keep going, don’t know how to employ ex-Servicemen… the Armed Forces is….you ain’t getting don’t talk about your feelings and keep (Partner) I’ve got no skills, I got trained to be an anything…unless you set your own company going, don’t talk about how you are feeling infantry soldier and guard the queen up and bring your own friends in…” “I would say I was never dependant on to families or others because that’s not how outside the palace…when I came out of (Veteran in Custody) anything, I just thought, the lifestyle I was it is done, you just keep it all in and you The Army they offered to me to be a engaged in, I couldn’t be engaged in that carry on.” postman, I said I’m not being a postman, For those that did find work, it was in manual industries such as: bricklaying, mechanics, bin sort of lifestyle if I wasn’t under the (Professional) why would I want to be a postman when I’ve man, factory labourer or management roles. influence of something.” been on tour, stood outside the palace the This high degree of self-sufficiency and privacy This was often contractual/temporary work and majority of my life and you’re trying to make (Veteran in Custody) cascades down into the family and, as we shall for some this was an intentional choice, to keep me be a postman.” moving, particularly if family breakdown had “I was never dependant on it, I just, when see further on, has implications for both veterans and their families accessing support. (Veteran in Custody) already occurred. things got too much I binge drinked to A small number of veterans in our sample oblivion, got in a state and that would be 4.2.3 The reality of civilian life “I did a lot of jobs that paid weekly or it then for another 6 to 8 months.” reported finding well-paid employment with paid monthly, that I could leave at a The time between leaving the military and (Ex-offender Veteran in the Community) relative ease and this was either due to absolute moment’s notice” entering custody for the first time ranged between determination to secure work or performing a (Veteran in Custody) Despite this, 11 out of 18 developed ongoing 0 – 17 years, with an average of 6.9 years. For specialist role within the military. substance misuse issues at some point after many, their expectations of returning to civilian “…worked my way up…earning shit loads of “…if you’re in a branch of the Armed Forces leaving the military, suggesting this military life were not met by the reality they found, in money again, but at that time I didn’t bother terms of family life, employment, level of pay and where you can learn a trade, such as the legacy had a lasting impact on their lives saving, I were just blowing everything, in the civilian community. As this partner cost of living. Many were not prepared for this. Royal Engineers or REME or whatever, then whatever I got, I blew…whatever, whoever, demonstrates, alcohol is an obvious ‘go to’ OK you’ve got skills that are transferable to whenever, wherever, I were working all for veterans, especially when facing difficult “And then going to civvy net where you get civvy street, but if you come from a combat over the country…wherever I stayed I found “life issues”. half the pay, your rent has double and you’re element...” finding it difficult because the kids haven’t another woman” (Professional) “And then he comes home and he has life settled yet. The transition is difficult, it is (Ex-offender Veteran in the Community) issues he finds it difficult to deal with and not easy.” They tended to find work similar to their military The frustrations of unemployment and/or low he turns to drink and everyone seems (Professional) roles such as private security or engineering. shocked by that and it’s just like what do you For the majority of veterans we interviewed from income employment directed some participants towards (or back to) illegal activity as a means expect?... the whole drinking culture in the Pressures to financially support their families an infantry role, finding employment was not to provide for their family or as a response to army is just horrendous, it horrendous.” and challenges in gaining employment easy and their military service was reported to compounded the ‘legacies’ of military life. building frustration with lack of employment. (Partner) sometimes act as a barrier. Perceptions of what constituted a ‘respectful’ career choice appeared to be enmeshed in their self-identity, a sense that what they had seen and done in the military was not being acknowledged in the types of jobs they were being offered.

36 37 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Four Needs of veterans, families and children – BEFORE custody

“…I’d work full time and it would go out “When you’re out you’re out…obviously the The majority remembered being told about RBL This potentially acts as a barrier to families on bills and I would have hardly anything first couple of weeks to see if you’re alright and/or SSAFA when they left, but very rarely accessing support if the family is separated left…it was basically surviving and not settling it…they have a liaison officer…a bit did they (or their families) access this support. and/or are not on good terms with the veteran. living. And then I found out my missus was of like contact…but…I’ll be honest…I just Lack of engagement with this support was Eligibility for un-married partners was also pregnant with our baby and I thought, I’m changed my number because I wanted The often put down to feelings of anger towards the raised as a potential barrier due to military military for being abandoned or ‘kicked out’, culture where only married partners can access not living like this no more and friends were Army to just stop…leave me alone for a bit wanting a ‘fresh start’, not identifying as the certain services and camp accommodation. doing this sort of stuff [drug crime] already and I think that was the worst decision to ‘kind’ of veteran who could get support and/or As this veteran shared: and so I joined them.” be fair.” an overhang of self-sufficiency from the military; (Veteran in Custody) (Veteran in Custody) ‘cracking on’ where asking for help was seen as “…I think sometimes, even the long term a sign of weakness. girlfriends or the mother of the children, Family difficulties and breakdown were The answers given in interviews with veterans won’t always look at that as an option common when returning to civilian life. This and families reinforced existing findings that “…if someone was a bit of a whinge…we because they don’t think they would qualify. was often tied up in increased alcohol/drug use certain groups of veterans are more vulnerable would always call him a SSAFA-case. And And that’s quite a normal thing, they don’t and violence expressed at home and in public, to negative outcomes. For example, ESLs we would always associate needing help realise that they can get that help. That generally with underlying mental health needs. appeared to be a more ‘at risk’ group due to their with I suppose weakness.” lesser transition support package24. Out of the nips a lot of support in the bud right away 4.2.4 Level of formal support 18 veterans interviewed, 6 would be officially (Veteran Representative) because they’re not even thinking of it as classed as ESLs – 4 left due to dishonourable an option.” The level of support offered by the military To be able to access any support from military discharge and 2 voluntarily. For the former, around transition depended on various factors charities, the family largely relies on the veteran (Veteran in Custody) this discharge was immediate and it is this including: length of service, pre-existing to identify, and link up family to support. immediacy that is regarded as increasing the resettlement plans, reason for discharge and vulnerability of ESLs and their families when the veterans own decisions around asking for/ exiting the military. 4.3 The spiral into custody engagement with support. As a result, each Before custody veteran and their family had very different “I find a lot of those who don’t know what experiences, responses to, and expectations of to do or where to go etc etc., tend to be the Diagram 3: Support needs of veterans before custody support from their unit. It was unclear to the wives of early service leavers, where you’ve fathers interviewed and the researcher where got less than 4 years in the job, ID card is the military’s responsibility for resettlement/ 12 taken off them, they show them the gate, transition begun and ended. 11 you know you haven’t been in that all long 10 “I think he made some really silly choices at you should know what to do.” 9 the time, I don’t feel like he was being offered (Professional) 8 enough support, I wouldn’t say they did 7 nothing but they did what I would consider Most veterans envisaged a long career in the bare minimum, and in the end I think it was military and the end came sooner than planned. 6 As a result, they did not have plans in place. more about their own reputation and how he 5 For those that were dishonourably discharged, 4 was sort of dragging them through the mud however, the immediacy of their discharge and they just wanted rid.” 3 meant that they went from being in the military 2 (Partner) one day, to being a civilian the next. 1 0 24. Johnson, T. & Murariu, G. (2016) Veterans in the UK: Issues facing the ex-service community Housing Employment Mental Physical Substance Finances Family/ Contact [online] Available from https://www.biglotteryfund. Health Health Misuse Relationship with children org.uk/-/media/Files/.../Foresight_report_9_ veterans.pdf (accessed 9/5/18).

38 39 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Four Needs of veterans, families and children – BEFORE custody

The three most reported needs immediately to the next day and just do it all over again “This guy said to me, he was suffering from A police officer whose role focusses on working prior to entering custody were: mental health, you know, and I was struggling really bad.” PTSD, he said he was a sheep in a field full with veterans in the criminal justice system substance misuse and family/relationship (Veteran in Custody) of sheep. And he was taken out of that field explained: issues. Sometimes, these issues were linked and turned into a wolf. Then when he was “The thing with children, I have noticed with pre-existing needs originating from early “…I came out with my PTSD and that, I had finished being wolf, they put him back into a that there are a lot of veterans that have got negative childhood experiences. As discussed really horrible nightmares and I relived a lot field full of sheep….he was no longer a sheep families, most of them, their families have in Section 4.1, this again highlights the of things over and over again, and I started …he couldn’t communicate, he couldn’t relate, completely broken down, they have come out MOD’s responsibility in terms of recruitment, getting scared of going to sleep at night so assessment of need and ongoing support. For he couldn’t get on with all of the other sheep the forces and can’t deal with married life or I started taking whizz and amphetamines some these issues were identified as a causative because he was no longer a sheep…” that relationship or that commitment and factor for leaving the military. When these issues and that to just keep myself awake. So I’d (Professional) that type of environment. They tend to turn arose later after leaving the military some still be awake for weeks on end and then I’d just to drink. There are a lot of issues that they attributed these to their time in the military. crash, and when you crash you just don’t “I would say that the time that they actually keep to themselves and they make it clear dream or nothing, you just asleep, gone, take to train somebody to become a soldier that their partner would not understand or Following this, finances and employment were so I just carried on taking them.” or whatever rank they need to be in and highlighted, supporting the points raised in get to know or anything. (Veteran in Custody) whatever role they need to play, actually the previous section. Housing was an issue So they are already kind of shutting doors de-programming them is going to be harder for a smaller number of interviewees but, on people that perhaps would… their Feelings of anger and violence were occasionally and will take a lot of time…I don’t think people alongside substance misuse, presented a linked to difficulties in ‘switching off’ military partners perhaps would get involved and realise how important it is to make sure we significant precursor to entering the criminal training, especially for those who worked in would want to know because they can help justice system. the infantry. Many highlighted how this was have got somebody ready. What you are doing and keep the family together…” a consequence of the military not adequately is you are leaving somebody like a little hot (Professional) 4.3.1 Mental Health and Substance Misuse addressing the psychological side of those bed and just plonking them somewhere and This professional continued by highlighting As discussed in Section 4.2.2, the legacy of transitioning from military to civilian/family life. they are going to go off at any time and then the difficulties families may experience in alcohol misuse was described as a key part they take no responsibility back for it. But “I got trained to assault the enemy and then understanding the process of transitioning. of military culture and appeared to be a clear family life is completely different.” coping mechanism for veterans to deal with you can’t switch it off immediately so you’re (Professional) trained to be this person and then once “…some families believe that once they experiences in combat, transitioning and/or are out the military, everything should be underlying mental health issues. you get into society you’re supposed to be 4.3.2 Family breakdown able to switch that off, it’s not possible, it’s perfect. They should be happy cos they are “It all stemmed from PTSD, mental health definitely not possible.” By the time the veterans interviewed received a home they are safe they are with their family, custodial sentence; the majority had separated they are where they need to be. “You have side of things, drinking and the violence (Veteran in Custody) side of things, DV and everything. So it from one or two partners who they had children done your bit now, you are here” They aren’t with. Hence, 32 out of 43 children involved in seemed to be a little cycle.” educated, the family aren’t educated about this research, notwithstanding the period of that transition.” (Professional) imprisonment, did not have or were not expecting their mother and father to be living together (Professional) “I was dead snappy and that with the lads, at home with them. This high level of family Another professional managing a service and some of my mates told me look you breakdown was reflected in our interviews with might be struggling because I was really working with veterans in the criminal justice professionals and was often linked to veterans system, and their families, gave a specific angry, I was good at my job but my temper distancing themselves or not talking openly example around time anxiety and how a was really bad. And at night times I wasn’t to their partners about their experience. It is positive behaviour essential to the military, getting any sleep hence the reason I was arguable that, due to the veteran often being may not translate well into civilian life if it is probably snappy and it was getting that bad the main point of access to family support from not discussed. I was drinking a lot so put me to sleep you military charities, this level of family breakdown know, to try and get some sleep, then get up would have significant impact on families’ awareness of and access to support.

40 41 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Four Needs of veterans, families and children – BEFORE custody

“On certain evenings of the week he would cusp of being discharged from The Army, So for children it’s carrying that secrecy 4.3.3 Homelessness go to pick up his 2 daughters from the youth and I was phoning them [the military] around isn’t it, of what’s going on, because 5 of the 18 veterans experienced problems with club, 8 o’clock pick up but unfortunately all the time and saying…I need help with you’re told not to.” housing in between leaving the military and they don’t come out til 20:20. By the time he him, someone needs to come and get him, (Professional) entering custody. Periods of homelessness were gets in the car he is actually fuming which someone needs to give him some support, reported to exacerbate the needs mentioned is quite commonplace for those who have whatever, lots of things.” Some fathers who reported substance above and in some cases, directly linked to misuse problems, explained they, sometimes served in the military and have time anxiety. criminal justice. (Partner) intentionally, ended relationships and/or They have a bit of a ding dong with dad, distanced themselves from their family and “Yeah, but then, that’s when I went horribly gets home they have a ding dong with mum On the whole, she expressed that this support was not forthcoming from his regiment and children as a way to protect them from any wrong for a while, for about 4 or 5 years, about dad. Mum has a ding dong with dad equally, when he was discharged, it was a negative impacts. just homelessness, drinking, fighting, I and dad has a ding dong with mum and it’s struggle to obtain support in the community think I just got to that what’s the point… I all going off. So we sat down with family…he “..one of the things that damaged me is that as his behaviour continued to spiral out of didn’t know what to do, I was lost…I look was able to understand…his children are not when I got home, I couldn’t pick my son up, control. A consequence of partners taking on the back now, I was lost, I was just drinking and soldiers and we said to the family that they because I felt guilty of all the times I’d seen challenge of balancing needs was repeated spells moving around, I couldn’t settle anywhere, understand that dad is not a bad man, but of separation and reunion, a pattern which was kids crying, hungry, that I couldn’t help. I wasn’t happy anywhere I was.” that is part of his makeup.” evident in several of the families we spoke to. I’d got that cold that when I got home I (Veteran in Custody) (Professional) didn’t pick my kid up for two days and that Regular, prolonged and often sudden periods broke my heart and then I realised what of fatherly absence from the family home were a “…because I had nowhere to go, I was on the One partner reported that, despite asking, she I’d become if you like, what had happened. factor for most families throughout military and streets straight away, sleeping in my car, knew nothing about her partner’s experiences But, then I got back into family life and I civilian life whether this was enforced (military/ sleeping in parks. I lost my license drink during the military and tentatively linked suppressed it, which is what happens.” current behaviours to his time in the military. civilian work, tours abroad, imprisonment, civil driving, had to sell my car, drank all the restrictions25) or due to ongoing difficulties (Veteran in Custody) money from that, went to London, slept in “He’s never told me so I just don’t know, but within the family home. Contrastingly, this “I became emotionally numb you know, and Hyde Park for a few months, went to various it’s since he’s been in [the military] that he’s absence was then partnered with intense periods hostels, it was just such a shock. Tried to of the father being at home 24/7. During these a lot of things might have, first of all, my been anxious, paranoid.” take my own life, didn’t know what to do, times at home, the likelihood of tensions and, in ex-partner, I might have pushed her away.” (Partner) I had no family support, no friends, no kind some cases domestic abuse increased, often with (Veteran in Custody) of brothers, sisters, nothing.” Another partner expressed challenges in a backdrop of increased alcohol use and mental balancing her and her children’s needs with the health deterioration. Taking steps to address any “…we split up just after I came out…because (Veteran in Custody) need to secure support for her partner as he of these issues appeared to be magnified by the I got on drugs and I didn’t want to be around “…we ended up splitting up again when was on the “cusp of being discharged” from the aforementioned legacy of military socialisation my son when I was doing that sort of stuff…” I was in there…I ended up going into a military. which prioritises privacy and the maintenance of (Veteran in Custody) a self-sufficient united family unit. homeless place when got out, then I got into “…at the time [I] found it really frustrating “I’d just drink…and that’s when the issues trouble again, got back with her, ended up because…[his] behaviour at the time, I “…it’s that secrecy ‘shh, don’t tell anyone’ so started, and causing arguments with [wife] in prison a year later.” wanted him to get help for…I couldn’t have the children are not disclosing [problems and that was it, I’d be gone. I’d put a few (Veteran in Custody) him living with us anymore because he was at home] because they’ve been sworn to clothes in a bag, passport, she’d ring me too chaotic and out of control but I wanted secrecy. You keep it in your family, that’s up ‘Where are you?’ ‘Amsterdam’, ‘Are you “…the only way they are going to keep me to help him, or I wanted somebody to help how military veterans operate – you work coming home’, ‘Yeah in about 4 days, see out of jail is to keep me off the streets.” him. [I] knew that wasn’t who he was as a as a unit, you don’t share your business. you’ and I’d come back 4 days later.” (Veteran in Custody) person and he obviously had some sort of (Ex-offender Veteran in the Community) underlying issues that were causing him to 25. For example, child contact restrictions or behave that way, and he was sort of on the restraining orders.

42 43 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Four Needs of veterans, families and children – BEFORE custody

4.4 Arrest and sentencing For the two fathers below, their children were With regard to the impact on the family at point present on arrest and they felt their children of arrest and sentencing, there was a lot of experienced severe and long term impacts, variation, with many fathers having already lost including changing attitudes towards the police. or having limited contact with their children by “…they seen me getting arrested, it was this point. In instances where partners/children awful. My boy has got a thing about police were involved, a small number were present In terms of sentencing, the main difficulty having no control and being given very little on arrest. The potential impact on families and now, you know, he don’t like them, all identified was the long periods of uncertainty. or sometimes conflicting information. For children varied based on several factors such because of that…it was one of the worse During this time, other uncertainties arose such example, fathers we interviewed and spoke to at as: the families’ prior knowledge of criminality, nights I had in prison in my life you know…. as the father’s employment, often the families’ veterans forums expressed frustration at being police conduct, the father’s conduct on arrest my kids crying for me while they take sole source of income, and/or the care of their assessed as low enough risk to have contact with and/or type of offence. me away.” children. There was also a clear pressure to their children whilst on bail in the community (Veteran in Custody) For instance, the mother quoted below had ‘make happy memories’ as a family before the and then having this contact withdrawn once no prior knowledge of her husband’s criminal “Point of arrest traumatised my little girl, father left. they were sentenced and entered custody. Consequently, this was a very sudden change behaviour and so the shock was the hardest I was tasered by the police, so she witnessed thing to deal with. “It was horrible, he had anxiety, he was for the children, from seeing their father one all of that…She was kind of screaming her scared, and obviously he knew he would go day, to not seeing them at all for months/years. “So when he got arrested…it was more shock head off, she hates the police now, she hates down…I was like, you won’t go, it’ll be fine. than anything because I didn’t know what them…Yeah, she’s had sleepless nights, she Come on, let’s do this and do that, make 4.5. Support Available – was going on and the police were coming in plays with her toys, she mimics the police memories, if you are going to go then let’s Early Intervention chasing and she’s gone will her little dolls, to raid our house. It was in the holidays and do it now. But we didn’t, it didn’t happen.” The support available to veterans and their “come on [father] I’ll save you” and the police I was in bed, and the kids were in bed. It was (Partner) families throughout their, sometimes lengthy, a bang on the door and I ran downstairs. are coming nee naw nee naw nee naw.” journey into the criminal justice system varied And they were so nice though I’ve got to say, (Veteran in Custody) “He was out on bail for about 6 months, so greatly depending on the geography, experience they were lovely. They just said “we need to that was…he was like waiting, sat waiting and needs of each veteran/family. This mother described the days following her check the rooms”….you know like you see it for him to go to court…He were due for partner’s arrest on camp, including the military Veterans and families generally appeared to only on films where they trash the place, it was court in October, we had like our last family police searching their family home. access support when in crisis, as a last resort. nothing like that.” holiday, and that were a bit…towards end… “It was quite difficult at the time because, I don’t know, because I always, you’ve got to (Partner) 4.5.1 Veterans [son] was only two and I remember having prepare yourself for the worst haven’t you. However, this mother and her children to move him room to room as they searched So yeah that were awful…” Any specific examples of early intervention experienced regular police presence at home and each room. It makes me feel sick thinking (Partner) services that did exist for veterans were rare school due to escalating harassment from the back to then because it was just this awful and were the result of concerted efforts to build father prior to his arrest. multi-agency pathways. For instance, one region feeling of…what’s going on? Nobody is really “…just a very difficult time and it was all up in the air. It was looking like he was going employed a veterans’ practitioner within the “…it has an effect on the children, because telling me anything and again, being on to get a suspended sentence so his lawyer NHS Liaison & Diversion team. The success when [father] spiralled out of control I had camp, it was just, everybody was walking said he very much doubted he would go of this role relied on prompt identification the police at my house every 5 minutes, past, people looking in. And then from then procedures by the police and when they came to prison…so we had quite high hopes he that not a suitable lifestyle for my kids… on, you know, it was just people looking at into police custody. At the time of interview, this would get a suspended sentence.” it’s stressful for them, what child wants to me and my children. It was just something practitioner’s contract was due to end within see a policeman in their house all the time? that you couldn’t really avoid; you’ve just got (Partner) six months due to funding termination. She highlighted the time it takes to build rapport They stress about it.” to get on with it.” Veterans and families reported vague messages with veterans and the complexity of their cases. (Partner) (Partner) from authorities such as the police, the military and social services. There was a sense of families

44 45 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Four CASE STUDY 1: Needs of veterans, families and Family Veteran Support Service (FVSS), Barnardo’s Cymru This project ran from 2016 – 2018 and was is what our role was…What we found children – BEFORE custody funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund was, neither party was in a place to affect (Armed Forces Covenant Fund) to specifically change because their mental health was provide support to the families of veterans so bad.” in the criminal justice system. Their team “They are also very guarded about what “I can think of numerous cases where the (Professional) they talk about, you really have to build veteran has got support needs but a member was made up of specialists in family work, up a relationship to get information out of the family has more significant support psychiatry and education, with a mixture of This complexity of need necessitated having military and non-military backgrounds. of them. They are not going to talk like we needs and using that word again ‘holistic’ several agencies involved in their care and support. What FVSS found was they were are now, they take a lot of time to build up we may need to support that family member We interviewed a previous employee of this the only service offering ‘in-depth’ support trust[…] They do present as quite high risk in order to benefit the veteran.” service who highlighted the complexity of the to the family and often coordinated the families they supported and explained how the and they are never small offences, generally (Professional) services around the family. They found majority of the support offered, was to families violent offences, alcohol related and DV are relationships took much longer to build with We are aware of one service (case study 1) that of veterans ‘at risk’ of offending rather than the top offences we see for veterans. Real the veteran families than initially envisaged was specifically developed to support families of those in custody, as by the time they were in safeguarding of the family and the children.” and that many veterans and their families veterans involved in the criminal justice system. custody, the family had already broken down. (Professional) Like veterans, a professional working for this were reluctant to access universal support, Complex levels of need were reported in especially social services. Subsequently, FVSS Another service operating in the North of service reported that the majority of families referred to their service were in crisis: addition to offending, such as domestic found that agencies involved were not picking England, reported a similar level of complexity abuse, substance misuse and above all, up on child protection issues and it was only and how this often contrasts with the ‘single “…what we found when we started making mental health issues. through building trusting relationships with issue’ design of support services. contact and working with families was that the families that FVSS were able to do this. “[T]he one thing that shocked us all was, by the time the families presented to us or “They normally present with a range of issues, when we made contact with the referral… The worker we spoke to concluded: were referred to us – i.e. via social services there are some services out there that deal was the poor mental health of the entire “[T]here is a definite need for specialist or the police, the families were in crisis. with housing some with debt, maybe with family... I always had to go in and address family support workers within the So…military families weren’t seeking mental health, some with substance misuse, the mental health needs of the veteran, military veteran world. And that’s about support until they were in crisis.” but again these are all single strands.” and the partner, before we could even look brokering trust, and continuity in (Professional) (Professional) to do any work with the children, which knowledge.” This professional emphasised the importance of 4.6. The “bath tub effect” conducting holistic needs assessments and the value of joint working, to promote collaboration In terms of general stress levels as residents rather than competition between services, move into/out of custody, an ex-military VICSO acknowledging the value of what each agency gave a useful explanation of what he called the has to bring to the table. “bath tub effect.” “We recognise our expertise, what we are “…you’ve got high levels of stress and anxiety good at, we do not try to step into an area at the top end, when they come into the we are not good at doing. We are effective prison system, they actually realise it’s not so but there are other services that are out bad, the stress and anxiety levels bottom out there to do that work.” and they are actually ok…but then they start to ramp up and increase again when they (Professional) know that they are being released.” 4.5.2 Family Work (Professional) There was evidence of pockets of family work from these specialist early intervention services. Over time they reported it became increasingly evident that they could not support the veteran effectively, without supporting their families.

46 47 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Four Section Five Needs of veterans, families and Needs of veterans, families and children – BEFORE custody children – DURING custody

This build up/down of anxiety was echoed in The MOD should look to fund a specific interviews with family members, with high service for dishonourable discharge due to the levels of stress during arrest/sentencing, and additional vulnerabilities the immediacy of then often a sense of relief and just ‘getting on this decision can create for the veteran, their with things’ once the father was sentenced and families and children. This could be delivered in custody. in collaboration with partner organisations.

3. Family preparation – education and training 4. 6 Recommendations to be provided to families of military personnel 1. Military independence, not dependence – to understand military life and vice versa for the culture of the military is at odds with civilian military personnel. Training should start culture and this has implications for veterans whilst serving and cover the impact of military and their families when they return to civilian life and transition into civilian life, including society. Military personnel are trained and possible needs and support services available. socialised into a collective mind-set where Relationship support should be funded by the HM Armed Forces take responsibility for their military to couples (married or not) throughout day-to-day needs. This culture opposes the their service and the years following their return individual mind-set of civilian society. Due to to civilian life. the young age many people enter the military, they are not able to ‘switch’ back into a mentality 4. Alcohol – further research into the that they have never developed and this conflicts prevalence, context and support around alcohol with the family, increasing the risk of family misuse within the Forces and the impact this breakdown and potentially domestic abuse. has on families and children. Re-framing and We recommend that the abuse put basic education around the definition of ‘problematic measures in place to facilitate more independent alcohol use’ in relation to the wider impact living and budgeting skills such as: paying which alcohol use and ensuing behaviour has for monthly rent and bills. We recognise that on military personnel/veterans and their family the Government’s Veterans Strategy seeks to and children. address this need, and welcome the work that – public and third sector is already underway ensure it is met. 5. Training professionals that come into contact with 2. Staged Transition – transition or veterans and/or their families (e.g. schools, GPs, ‘decompression’ from and between military third sector agencies) to receive training (such and civilian life, needs to encapsulate the as ‘Military Human’ training26 programme or psychological transition just as much as the alternatives), to ensure wide understanding of logistical support required. This includes the specific culture of military life, transition periodical transitions into/out of family life and possible difficulties. This training must throughout service and the final transition include experiences of families and children out of the military. Improved communication and details of support available. Due to the between military and community services is identified complexity of need, it is essential that required to facilitate this resettlement for safeguarding training is provided to ensure child both veterans and their families. protection issues are monitored and reported.

26. https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/courses/professional-and- short-courses/military-human/the-military-human- military-culture--transition/

48 49 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

5.1 Identification To access support, the family generally rely on “I didn’t really default back into that mode “…guilt and humiliation in terms of how the veteran self-identifying and then actively until I went away – that’s when I really they have fallen from grace in the eyes of 5.1.1 Disclosure passing on this information to the family. thought about going back into veteran their children and their families and their Identification was widely recognised by “…they are excluding their families from the mode, when I went to prison.” local community.” professionals as one of the biggest challenges to (Veteran in Custody) (Professional) working with veterans in custody, confirming help, [if] they’re not willing to disclose that they’ve served.” what has already been acknowledged in 5.1.2 Fall from grace “…they feel that they’ve let themselves previous research27. Despite there being clear (Veteran in Custody) down, they feel they’ve let colleagues down, definitions of the term ‘veteran’, veterans and There was a clear feeling from all participants their comrades down, the Cap badge down, “…we rely almost 100% on the veteran that, for military veterans going into custody, families’ perceptions of what defined a veteran the unit down…so there’s a real sense of was a potential barrier. For veterans, this was telling us they need help, and very often there is a bigger ‘fall from grace’. This was embarrassment around declaring when they explained by various factors such as: the term because of pride or whatever they don’t based on the belief that working for the military being associated more with the American forces, want the help, and so to a certain extent is a highly regarded form of employment and first arrive.” a sense that the title can only be earned through the family are the hidden victims if you so, it follows that the ‘fall’ into custody may be (Professional) experiencing combat or simply the length of perceived as greater than the general offender like, because if their partner doesn’t say Evidently this ‘fall from grace’ has the potential time in between military service and custody. population. In the same vein, it was felt that ‘will somebody contact my wife because to influence the family and children, not only in The term ‘veteran’ was much more than a word, families, professionals and society have higher they need help’, then we can’t do anything, terms of how they view their father, but also how but something which potentially opened them up expectations of veterans in terms of how they because we don’t know...” they perceived to be viewed by the community as to more questions which, without a high degree should or should not behave. The resultant a whole family unit. The family potentially ‘falls’ of trust, they were not readily open to answer. (Professional) feelings of shame, guilt and embarrassment were cited by all as reasons why fathers might this great height with the father and, as many Above all, feelings of humiliation, “They say that if you served a day…but I not identify as veterans on entering custody. veterans are first time offenders, this may come embarrassment and shame delayed or stopped think that people who served operational as a real shock to the family. veterans from identifying in custody and in some “I see coming here as failure, so I don’t tours, they’re the real veterans really.” “Most veterans look back and they are quite cases this was linked to their offence. Further come to prison as a veteran and say I’m (Veteran in Custody) proud of their service and that reflects in reasons frequently cited were: fear of reprisals a military veteran because I think it’s a from extremists in prison, fear of further the family as well and the children. So you “To say I am a veteran is a big thing, that double failure, I kind of hold myself to a punishment from the military, lack of trust in take that drop, that fall from grace, it is a means I have to talk about what is going on higher, to my detriment, I hold myself to a support services, loss of military pensions or bigger fall.” for me and I don’t want to do that, you are actively forgetting/rejecting military history higher standard and I didn’t say anything (Professional) a civilian and you don’t understand. That is due to negative experiences of discharge. for a while.” what we are up against and that is difficult.” (Veteran in Custody) “…military veterans in custody, first timers, “Sometimes they are very proud. A lot (Professional) they’re not career criminals, or don’t tend of times families will stick to what their “…there are issues around pride and a to be career criminals…it tends to be either The families we spoke to did not tend to view husbands say, you don’t need support, feeling of having fallen from grace because violence related or sexual offending in terms themselves as a ‘veteran family’, predominantly we’ll be alright.” if you have spent a life in service or even a of numbers…So there is a difference in terms because they were not with the father when he few years where the whole regime is around (Professional) of the impact on children and families… was in service. However, in terms of support standards and leadership and values and I would describe it as more stark, it’s more available to them, not identifying as a veteran For many, it was not until they came to prison then if you find yourself at rock bottom” family appeared to preclude them from accessing that they began to reconnect with their of a shock.” (Professional) support they were eligible to receive. In the first ex-military identity. For example, in the (Professional) instance, access to/knowledge of support relies 17 years between leaving the military and on a chain of identification/information sharing entering custody, this veteran did not think which the family has little control over. about being ‘a veteran’ (and therefore, not accessing support for him/his family as a veteran) until he went into prison. 27. The Futures Company (2013).

50 51 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

Whether perceived or actual, this ‘fall from This sense of ‘pride’ and fear of standing out was “…when the guys come off the transport “Have you ever served in the Armed Forces as grace’ and the feelings that run alongside this, also identified by family members as a barrier to and they come through reception to be a regular, reservist or volunteer or are you or appear to influence whether veterans or families publicly admitting they need help. processed at [prison], there’s a great big have you ever been a family member of someone firstly identify as a veteran/veteran family and sign there now which says “have you served who has?” (2017: 11) secondly, hold their hands up to ask for support. “I am quite a proud person…I’m not one that likes to ask for help, especially with your country?”… So straight away, as soon However, professionals reported that any as they arrive, it’s in their face “you are 5.1.3 The grey man my family, that at 41 I still have to have help question about military service can often be with rent. I personally just wouldn’t [opt for safe here” met with suspicion from veterans, who worry Avoiding identification and not asking for that an affirmative answer will lead to further support outside of the family]” (Professional) support, fell in line with a general coping punishment (from the military). To mitigate strategy whilst in custody of ‘keeping your head (Partner) Including the question about military service this, a professional from a military charity down’ or as one professional put it, being the at key points as residents arrive in custody was “Pride maybe. I think it takes a lot to admit, suggested qualifying questions to emphasise “grey man”. standard across all the estates we worked with. that disclosure is about accessing services, “ok I need help with this” and I think for a In line with the recommendations by Phillips not punishment. “It’s escape and evasion, wanting to play lot of families, parents it can be quite…I hate (2014), it was reported that residents were given the grey man…It’s a military term. Make to say embarrassing….but it can be quite, the opportunity to identify as veteran via the “…qualify it and say ‘have you served in the yourself as small as possible to avoid being yeah embarrassing to ask for help and I Basic Custody Screening Tool, as well as initial Armed Forces, because if you have we can identified and standing out in a crowd.” don’t like that people think that.” needs assessments (with key workers and/or put you in touch with [military organisation] (Professional) (Child) health worker), equal opportunities forms who may be able to provide some support for and/or induction meetings. In this process, you or your family’” By raising their hand to ask for support, choice of language was highlighted as key to 5.1.4 Communication Strategies (Professional) veterans felt they were making themselves (and encouraging identification: their ‘fall from grace’) visible, increasing their Positive identification of veterans and The initial phase of entering custody was widely vulnerability. This vulnerability was described communication of the support on offer “…it’s quite difficult to get the guys to relate acknowledged as a time of high stress for most in terms of physical safety (i.e. becoming a target worked best when using multiple strategies. to the word veteran. So when you get talking residents, especially first-timers (61% of the for extremist groups) and as expressing a form For instance, large posters across the prison about “are you a military veteran” or when veteran sample). For many, it was not until they of weakness, which went against the portrayal estate which are visible from the moment we ask the question “are you a veteran were more settled that they disclosed – when of a strong, independent and proud soldier. residents arrive: or not?” it doesn’t really resonate in the they felt safer and could see concrete offers of The expectation of military culture was described same way…what I ask is “have you been in support (e.g. regular veteran forums). Therefore, as dealing with things on your own and not the military?” It’s a really small change in professionals reported it is essential to employ making your or your families’, problems public. language…it can be really effective.” ongoing opportunities for veterans to identify to give veterans the time they needed to disclose. “…his whole mentality that’s been drilled (Professional) The type and environment of the individual into him about not being able to admit when Existing research supports the need for estate also had an impact, with rates of he needs help or that he’s got a problem. developing effective questions, and this should disclosure generally much higher in sex offender That has a big impact…” seek to identify family members as well as estates. Professionals linked this to the generally (Partner) veterans. For example, Albertson (2017) suggests lower levels of violence in such prisons, enabling adopting the following question to capture all the residents to feel safer to disclose. “It’s such a macho environment, that when five branches28 of the Armed Forces community Peer support was regarded as key to promoting you come out of it, you don’t really switch off membership, which includes families: from it…You just don’t want to talk about it, disclosure e.g. prison officers occupying VISCO you think I’ve got to do this on my own… roles and residents taking on the role of Veteran Representatives. Veteran Representatives often I shouldn’t have to speak to someone else made themselves visually identifiable by wearing to deal with it, I should be able to deal with 28. As defined in Albertson et al., (2017) - (1) regular currently serving personnel, (2) volunteer and (3) veteran t-shirts and/or badges, organising this on my own.” regular reservists, (4) veterans, families of regulars, regular veteran forums/events and going onto the (Professional) reservists or veterans and (5) the bereaved. wings to speak to individual veteran residents.

52 53 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

“I walk around in a veterans t-shirt, you Considering the challenges reported in veterans that as a default mechanism a lot of veterans “I am kind of on auto-pilot, make sure they see it says ‘Veterans in Custody’ and I walk identifying in custody, as the majority of support will jump to right away. Instantly you’re at are ok, make sure they have got food…I around with this veterans badge on and for veterans’ families relies on this identification, home, straight away you’re back at home.” think it was just to make it, even though it is it follows that families are even less likely to be I make a point around the jail that I am a (Veteran in Custody) just a part of life, but this is our life now and veterans rep” identified and consequently, access support. just carry on, just keep going…” The potential ‘ease’ at which veterans adapted to (Veterans Representative) (Partner) 5.2 “Getting on with it” the custodial environment carried positive and Once a resident positively identified as a veteran, negative behaviours. For instance, professionals This mother expressed a sense of relief, once 5.2.1 On the inside… this was often followed with a more detailed reported veterans being respectful towards contact with her husband was in place, as she assessment with the VICSO or a Veterans Following the ‘bath tub’ model, the build-up authority, following rules and getting involved and her children were able to focus on their lives. Representative to ascertain more information of anxiety and uncertainty prior to entering in activities, especially if this was linked to the about their service, role and support needs. custody then begins to reduce as residents settle military. However, the custodial environment, “It felt for me….kind of a bit of relief because, This was largely focussed on the veteran and into the prison environment and ‘get on with’ akin to a military operation, was often referred right that’s the sentence, he’s going to serve any information about their family seemed to their sentence. to as ‘hostile’ and resulted in a switch back that now. Again, once he got his phone be gained more informally, as/when it was to ‘survival mode’. This required constant credit sorted and we had contact I was like In line with similar reports from other raised by the veteran. Some establishments hypervigilance to any threats to safety, being yes, we can…because I was worried about professionals interviewed, this realisation that had more formalised induction packs with in ‘fight’ or ‘keep your head down and carry on’ him you know, could he do this? How’s he prison is not ‘that bad’ is nuanced for veterans mode and suppressing any issues/emotions. information about support available for mentally going to cope with this…he has veterans and their families. as the prison environment was described as being very similar to the military environment “I feel like with veterans…it’s either fight just been kicked out and gone to prison… Despite the reported challenges around in providing structure, clear hierarchy, and male or flight…we don’t have no flight, it’s just a how is it going to be for him? But once he identification, every veteran interviewed ‘comrades’ in the context of restricted liberty. thing of you stand your ground and you sort was there and he was like, getting on with regarded their disclosure as a positive decision The veteran re-transitions from an individual it out.” it, it was like, right it is our turn to get on back into being part of a ‘unit’. which only benefitted their time in custody. For (Veteran in Custody) with it now…and just the everyday, getting example, special services or ‘perks’ for veterans into a routine again, with the support of my “I’ve spoken to quite a few prisoner veterans were mentioned such as extra gym passes, fast “Every vision that went through my head friends and family.” who prior to coming into custody, their track to enhanced wings, direct telephone access when I was in Syria was to get back to my anxiety was through the roof, they’re (Partner) to military charities and in one estate, a separate children, and that doesn’t stop by being in veteran wing. The majority of participants incredibly stressed they’re really angry here, I still have that same feeling, it’s still Despite a similar ‘bath tub’ experience for interviewed however, felt veterans should not about what’s about to happen and what’s strong, this journey isn’t over, this fight isn’t both the veteran and the families, the lives of be treated any differently and the main benefit going to happen…that fear of the unknown... over yet not by far.” families and children whilst the father is in was simply the experience of being around other once they’ve stepped foot into the criminal custody, was regarded on several occasions by (Veteran in Custody) veterans, re-building that sense of belonging and justice system and it really is no different professionals and veterans as much harder than providing informal support to one another. than being part of a military unit, training being in custody. 5.2.2 …on the outside “I was fortunate that I met [veterans rep]… together, eating together, sleeping together, After a lot of uncertainty in the build up to the “I had it easy, I had the easy life in prison, There is an actual veterans meeting, a deploying together, being away from your yeah I were locked up but I had it easy family…there’s this kind of invisible big sentencing, families expressed having to push group that meets once a month, and it is in their emotions to one side and ‘get on with it’: compared to what she had to do….She had itself a support. You’ve got people who are exhalation” the hard job, not me…” (Professional) like-minded, experienced similar things to “Hearing that he’d gone away? I don’t (Ex-offender Veteran in the Community) yourself to meet…you feel very comfortable remember much. I think I was in year 2 at “We’ve got a little room, just like the that everybody in there you can trust…you the time. I remember coming home and barracks, it’s full of men, just like the already have a connection, so that in itself, mum was in bits. I think I found it hard to barracks, there’s a big wall with barbed wire just having the group is a benefit, regardless react... And from there, it’s all kind of a blur on it, just like the camp, I can relate to this of whether it offers any further services.” because we kinda just got on with it.” quite quickly and easily. That’s something (Professional) (Child) 54 55 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

“I’ve got to be here but my family have got were asking, there was a lot going on and “I think military children, speaking “…a child who’s parent is leaving them, the worst end…they still have the added it was just a bit of a shock for all of us. Just generally, are a bit more resilient to that been deployed, going to some warzone or stress of me being here, then not seeing me, knowing how he was, was he ok? What it temporary loss, but I think there’s a lot whatever, and then you get the constant the kids not seeing me, then they got life in must have been like for him?” more, in general speaking, they’re not being worry of is my mum safe or is my dad safe? general…bills, work and everything to take (Partner) told the truth. So…it might not impact Is he safe? Is he being hurt? But for the into account. So they have it worse than me.” initially but it will further down the line…” services children, when they’ve seen both (Veteran in Custody) “It’s also the not knowing…people don’t hear (Professional) sides, the deployment side of it and then good stories about jail do they? They only coming into here [prison] as well, it’s very At the same time, the support, motivation and/ hear the bad stuff, so if someone says my For veteran families, this secrecy about the much like a double barrelled shot gun, or the ‘glue’ the family provided was regarded father’s custodial sentence is in addition to dad’s gone to jail – oh my god is he being they’re getting it all over again.” as essential to ensuring the veterans positive beaten up? Is he alright?” a pre-existing culture which, as discussed rehabilitation. This reinforces Lord Farmer’s in Section 4, prioritises secrecy within the (Professional) (Professional) (2017) recommendations, that in order to reduce family unit. The impact and upset caused by this repeated levels of recidivism, families of all parents in “Yeah she’s [child] watched the telly so she This resilience was supported by one family we absence was expressed by one mother whose custody, must have access to help and support thought something bad was going to happen partner missed out on the early years of both when they need it. interviewed who had lived on military barracks to him.” and the father was discharged and sentenced to his children’s lives, the first due to military “…the family have got that glue, more than (Partner) eight months in civilian prison. deployments and the second, due to his current sentence: us [professionals]. You’re [the veteran] This ex-military VICSO used his experience “I think with being a military family…it sitting tidy, having a cup of tea, watching of being away from his family on tours as a sounds wrong this…with deployments or “She [child 2] was 3 weeks old when he went EastEnders, your partner has to travel by resource to empathise and understand the detachments when they have to go away for in. So when he was in The Army with [child train, by bus, by taxi to get here. Is she experiences of families with fathers in custody. months at a time, it kind of becomes the 1] he didn’t see any of this, because he was experiencing problems? Do you know the norm where we prepare ourselves and the in The Army and now he’s away he can’t even support that’s on offer for her? Because she “…when I was away, when I was overseas on children that Daddy is going to go away. We see her [child 2] growing up.” is the one doing all the work at the moment.” my tours, my family used to worry sick about see him pack all his things and sometimes (Partner) (Professional) me because they didn’t know what I was doing, where I was. And I think the same we don’t hear from him for weeks. But, the 5.3 Who needs to know? “They are a big part of keeping things applies to the guys in the prison system. children were very young, in my instance. together, a big part of the jigsaw, the glue. If there is a massive lack of information So I think it prepared me myself and how to 5.3.1 Children If we can keep them supported then they are around the environment – are they ok? prepare the children. I think for a normal civilian family, I think it must be a massive The majority of veterans interviewed or their better at supporting their husband, Dad.” What kind of breakfast do they get every partners had told their children that they were thing for the children and families.” (Professional) day? How many hot meals do they get a day? in prison. Out of 18 veterans, 4 reported actively Have they got access to the gym? All of those (Partner) deciding not to tell their children. Out of these As a starting point, the support needed was help kinds of details that we take for granted…. 4, 2 had entered custody within a year or less of in setting up methods of contact with the father However, there was recognition that there leaving the military and the other 2 undertook and basic information sharing to mitigate the that is a real source of comfort for families.” was potentially a flip side to this familiarity employment prior to custody which required feelings of ‘not knowing’. (Professional) of paternal absence and experiencing it again, them to be away from home for long periods of could reinforce children’s worries for their time. From their responses, it seems that the “It took a while because I hadn’t heard Some professionals suggested that, in the parent’s safety. anything, because I remember feeling really short-term, these families might be more more recent experience of their father being away resilient than non-veteran families when the ‘at work’, provided a useful framework to explain worried because gosh, I thought, I haven’t father goes into custody, as they are used to their absence. Other factors that influenced what even had a phone call…I was worried about the father being away. children did/did not know included: length of him, I was worried about…the children sentence, family separation, levels of contact, previous experience of the father being away for work, previous sentences or the age of the child.

56 57 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

“The first time I was in [prison] on remand A veteran here explains why he decided to tell “…they were seeing daddy every day and to The value of honesty was equally expressed by for three months, they thought I was in his 6-year-old daughter: stop hearing from him…they knew, even if this child. Iraq but we tried to play it smugly with my I was in Iraq, Afghanistan, wherever I was “I told her, I felt that you know a child’s “I think it really pays to be honest with that ex-partner. And then three months later on tour, I always still managed to speak to mind works very differently to ours, it’s very kind of thing. Because if the kid knows early, when I was still in prison that is when we them on the phone you know. And for them black and white you know and whether she they get used to it. But if they go through broke the news to them…they know I was on to just not hear of me, they knew something knows it or not, me leaving, she’ll think it’s it believing one thing and then one day one month leave when I got arrested, when was either wrong, or, well to this day they her fault, so I didn’t want that to affect her this whole illusion comes shattering down I was taken to custody they thought I was still don’t know the truth. They think I’m, later on in life, she may become needy so… around you…that can be quite hurtful…. going abroad again.” she [mother] told them that daddy’s working we told her, that I can’t come home, I’ve been to learn that not only the people you trust away…Do I really want to let the kids know (Veteran in Custody) naughty and I have to stay here, that’s what most are lying to you but that what you…the the truth or do I want to keep on lying to happens when the police get you. I think picture you had of that parent, is not what “She knows this place as daddy if you know them, because it’s something that makes it’s better like that because now she knows you thought it was. I am really appreciative what I mean. I came to jail when she was me worry you know. The kids…have always that it’s not her fault. Because it’s the deceit that they were honest with me.” what 3 months old…yeah 3 months old so as well because once they’ve figured out known daddy is a soldier, for one of them to (Child) she just knows this place as me. And then that you’ve lied, you’re teaching them how go to school and say my daddy’s in prison it obviously my other kids always ask when to lie then, you’re teaching them how to be not a very proud thing for them to…there’s 5.3.2 The families ‘fall from grace’ I’m coming home from work.” deceitful, you’re teaching them that they different ways of looking at it you know.” (Veteran in Custody) can’t be trusted, they think they’ve done (Veteran in Custody) When discussing how families decided who to something wrong, so all that kind of stuff.” tell and who not to tell, for those interviewed For those that did decide to tell their children, “…we just told them I was working away. there was evidently stigma attached to the father depending on the child’s age, strategies were (Veteran in Custody) [But] with this job I do now, at some point being in custody. This was sometimes based employed to ‘soften the blow’. For example, not The impact of the ‘deceit’ involved in not telling on responses from friends, family and/or the being specific about how long their father will I will have to be working away and I don’t children was expressed by other veterans with want them thinking…they’ll probably think local community but equally on the families’ be away for or not giving details of the offence. perception of what people would think or do very conflicting feelings. I’m back in prison” 3 veterans reported withholding information with the information if they decided to share. about the charges and later finding out that (Ex-offender Veteran in the Community) their child(ren) had searched online and found The impact of the press was mentioned by a out on their own. Equally, a professional working with veterans in small number of veterans. custody shared a response he gave to a veteran who was unhappy about another professional “It was on the local news once I’d been who had inadvertently told his 7-year-old sent down, so there was no hiding it from daughter that he was in prison. anyone. It wasn’t a case of daddy’s just gone, “Your daughter is seven years of age, she it’s like everyone knows where dad has gone, has walked up here, been patted down, been because it was on the local news. So they had sniffed by the dog, sees all these bars…. to contend with that.” whose lying to who? What do you think (Veteran in Custody) she’s doing to protect your feelings? You’ve “…they have to live in the community and put that on her at seven years of age, what it was all over [newspaper] you know so, are you doing?” Families lie, they lie to I can’t imagine the shame or embarrassment. protect these children and they don’t mean He [son] said he doesn’t feel embarrassed it, there’s not bad intentions, they want to but you have to a certain degree, so there’s protect each other but you’re not, you’re that effect that it has on people” living a lie and that lie continues” (Veteran in Custody) (Professional) 58 59 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

The sharing of this information in the local “…I felt a bit of support and a bit of relief The weight of the stigma of having a parent in 5.4 Family contact community and uncertainty that went with really that they knew and they were there to prison and there being no clear benefit/support it, increased anxiety amongst families and help even though they hadn’t been in that on offer, seems to put the balance in favour of not Diagram 4: Veterans in contact children. situation before. It was just knowing there telling schools. There appears to be confusion or with children was someone there to talk to, knowing I lack of transparency around what happens with “It were harder at first because I think I’d this information, where responsibility lies and could cry….let it all out” kinda walk down the street and I’d feel like what services do/do not share. ‘oh there’s that lady there whose husband’s (Partner) in prison’ and I’m like…you know, because Those that did tell the school generally did Only a small number of families actively chose to so in response to the identified changes or everyone…we’re from this village so tell the school or nursery about their situation. concerns about the child’s behaviour. There were everybody knows us.” Most did not see it as ‘their business’ or assumed no negative consequences reported once the (Partner) this communication would happen automatically school had been told, in fact, only positives in between the school, the prison and other terms of accessing additional support such as “I thought everybody knew. When I was services. counselling or play therapy. One child benefitted at school in the playground, I thought “…I didn’t feel like I could approach the from weekly sessions with her teacher where everyone was looking at me, so that wasn’t they followed activities sent by a specialist family very nice. But probably nobody knew. Who school and tell them things, like it’s just not worker for children with parents in prison. knew, who knew?” something that I want to do, I don’t want (Partner) to discuss what’s going on…if you’ve been “…she has a teacher, once a week…who she approached by children’s services and the has time with a memory box and they talk “It is the worst when people change when police, that there’s all this stuff going on, about Dad and things that they want to put they hear about it.” is it their responsibility to say?” in […] I remember the teacher saying to me, 72% Contact 28% No contact (Child) (Partner) if [worker] hadn’t sent anything, they would be struggling about how to support “One of my military friends said the way you “I told the teacher once, when she was in [daughter]. They didn’t know where to turn enter school would be different. Like with year one, and I don’t think the teacher told Out of 43 children, 31 had contact with their to or where to look for help.” father at some point whilst they were in custody. your head down and…cos again it was a anyone else and obviously she’s in year two (Partner) This covers various types of contact (social small camp and whispers and rumours… now so I don’t think…and I just think why visits, telephone, emails and letters) and contact it was nobody else’s business and I kept do I need to tell them?...It’s not nice to talk This specific example, detailed more in ‘Case with step-children and children from previous myself to myself a lot.” about, I don’t like talking about it anyway” Study 4’, was very rare and demonstrates relationships. 25 had face-to-face contact and the (Partner) (Partner) a tangible benefit to disclosing the family remaining 6 only had contact with their father situation to the school. via telephone and letters/emails. 11 out of the Partners and children reported being very “I do think it was me going to them, because One veteran wished there was more 31 children were only able to have contact with selective about who they chose to tell this I wanted just to talk to the head teacher. their fathers because of paternal grandparents, ‘secret’ of their partner or father being in communication between prisons and schools, I think [daughter] needed that support, as he reported the impact his custodial sentence current partners/ex-partners or aunties custody. One mother expressed that initially she she’d been through a lot with moving. I just facilitating the visit and in some cases, liaising did not want to tell her friends and family, but had on his 10-year-old son’s behaviour: wanted her to be ok. So I did, same with between their mother and father. 12 children based on advice and support from her child’s [son], his nursery. I went to them.” “It hit him hard when I told him I had to go had no contact with their fathers whilst they social worker, she did tell them and, in the end, away…his behaviour…it’s gone downhill… were in custody. The reasons given for this were this was a positive decision. (Partner) I would love my boys teachers to come in short sentence length, relationship breakdown because…he struggles with his school…. with the mother, difficulties in arranging visits (communication, finances) or uncertainty and obviously I just get it relayed, of what regarding permitted contact (this was often my ex tells my current fiancée” unclear to the father). (Veteran in Custody)

60 61 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

From the perspective of veterans involved in This is in comparison to public prisons where 5.4.3 Face-to-face visits There were examples of financial support this study, 14 had contact at some point with one veteran stated: for travel/accommodation being sought via Social visits are available at all prison estates, at least some of their children. For 2 of these the Assisted Prison Visits Unit (APVU)29 and/ “there are two phones for 40 people.” with their frequency each week varying veterans, this contact was later withdrawn, or military charities. 2 out of the 5 partners (Veteran in Custody). depending on the specific regime of individual apparently due to interventions from social interviewed had no knowledge of the APVU prisons. They are generally 2 hours in length services. They both expressed uncertainty about and reported they would have used it had they Issues with finances and the expense of making and take place in a communal visits hall where this due to receiving unclear information, either known. Social visits were often made possible phone calls to mobiles was also highlighted residents must stay seated in their allocated from the mother and/or prison professionals, all by the support of other family members and/or as an issue which meant some veterans were seat. In the majority of cases, family members they knew is that contact stopped. For these 2 local services. actively trying to reduce the number of calls take responsibility for booking via the prison and the 4 that had no contact with any of their they made on the prison public phone. booking system but in some prison estates, children throughout their sentence, they all The process of going into the prison on a social the resident books in their visits. hoped to re-establish contact with their children One child interviewed only had contact with her visit was described by one child quite negatively, especially local prisons or ‘ones at the start’30. on release in some way but it was unclear if this father via letters and telephone whilst he was Family visits, depending on the estate, take serving an 8 month sentence. would be possible. place less frequently (once a month or quarterly) “…the ones at the start were much more and are often organised by the charity operating harrowing to go through than the new ones. 5.4.1 Letters and emails “No I didn’t get to see him…I could only the visitors centre. They are typically 3-4 hours The first ones it was like going through all hear him on the phone…I couldn’t even long and involve additional activities (such as Contact via letters or emails seemed to be the see him completely.” the different bits, the dogs would come in least preferred method of communication, hot food, interactive games or visitors) and (Child) the resident is generally allowed to move and and then you would go through all the gates, primarily due to the delays in arrival (especially you felt more like a prisoner. And then the if telephone contact was also taking place). interact with their family. When asked if it was nice to speak to her father new ones are still the same thing but seemed Cards were regularly sent/received for important on the phone, she answered: In terms of face-to-face visits reported, these more relaxed, I know it wasn’t but it seemed celebrations e.g. Father’s Day or birthdays. were via social visits and to a lesser degree, “Yes….until daddy stopped and he spoke to relaxed. But it always felt wrong, it was family visits. The frequency of social visits weird. I don’t like doing it.” 5.4.2 Telephone mummy…I hate it when it goes like that, ranged from once every week, two weeks, month (Child) Telephone contact with the most regular form because I get so frustrated and I never get or as/when it was affordable. 8 children included of contact for participants, with the majority to see him that often.” in this study received weekly face-to-face contact A mother described how she felt the first time speaking anything from twice a day to once a (Child) and in all these cases, the families lived in close she and her two children visited her husband in week on the phone. Phone calls were generally proximity to the prison. For the other families, prison (a remand prison): made in the evening and were an opportunity for From interviews with her father and mother, distance, and subsequent cost this implied, was fathers to say good night to their children before we know that this family sought advice from a key factor in how frequently they were able to “Oh my god, so scared. It is quite a blur now. they went to bed. professionals and other families about what visit. The availability of the partner/ex-partner to I do remember the shaking, and then the to expect from a prison visit. Based on this facilitate the visit was also key and much more dogs being next to you and putting your In private prisons, easier access to a telephone information, concerns about the presence of challenging for mothers who had to balance this bags in lockers. It was quite fast moving. was highlighted as a positive mechanism to other offenders in the visits hall, the distance with full time or part time work. maintain family communication. and the father’s relatively short sentence, they However, everything was just…weird…very made a decision for the children not to have “…that’s probably one of the biggest reasons strange…it’s like I was in my own…I was in “The good thing about the private sector in face-to-face contact. that I don’t go and visit him as often as I’d a different world.” prisons is you do have telephones in your like to, I mean it costs me £40 a time just in (Partner) cell, so phone calls every night. That made fuel to get up there and the last two times a massive difference. That telephone in your I’ve gone there and back in a day because I cell, is what I think, probably saves a lot of can’t afford to stay there.” 29. https://www.gov.uk/help-with-prison-visits#other- ways-to-apply peoples marriages and relationships. For (Partner) me, that phone has been crucial.” 30. Local prisons generally have higher numbers of residents on remand, and therefore higher turnover (Veteran in Custody) of residents and less capacity for rehabilitative interventions.

62 63 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

The environment of certain prisons was often “There was a families day, and I was like “Going in was great, big hugs, kids running A combination of length of sentence, distance, a deciding factor in whether social visits took ‘that’s amazing, a families day’. The families up, there was always a shop, kids playing. finances and the disruption to the routine or place. Depending on the length of sentence, day was great and we did that and you didn’t It was always that last half an hour when the ‘survival mode’ influenced the frequency of some fathers chose to wait until they were have to wear those silly bibs and you could bell rings and then it was like ‘ohh’, that’s social visits. released, or in lower security prisons, to have be with your children, play games with them when it would sink in…that we got to leave.” face-to-face contact. Others felt concerns about the types of offenders who would be present in for the whole day and it was great, interact (Partner) the visiting hall prevented them from having with them and fantastic.” contact with their children: (Veteran in Custody) 5.5. Veteran Support Needs “I know the sole reasons my ex-wife won’t One veteran expressed that family days During custody bring my two kids here is that she doesn’t specifically for veteran families would be Diagram 5: Support needs of veterans during custody want her kids sitting in a room full of, beneficial. In one estate (case study 2), veteran effectively, child sexual abusers. Um...that’s family days already take place and are held 10 why she won’t bring them in, but if there quarterly (8 in total per year – 4 for main was a private room she could bring them prisoners, 4 for vulnerable prisoners), providing 9 into, she would. But that’s not reasonable opportunities for partners and children, as well 8 as veterans: to organise, it’s very difficult.” 7 “Yeah…I think the veterans one is better (Veteran in Custody) 6 than the normal one, there’s more support Family visits, where families are invited for for like…my partner if she weren’t working 5 extended visits with organised activities, shared there’s opportunities for her to go into work 4 meals and physical contact with the father were and stuff like that…there is a lot of charities described positively. 3 that come in.” 2 “Family visits…there weren’t very many, (Veteran in Custody) 1 maybe two or three, even if it was that many. Aside from the geographical and financial It was nice, there was just lots of games, 0 challenges in making social visits, one family Housing Employment Mental Physical Substance Finances Family/ Contact food and you just went and it was nice reported reducing the number of visits whilst Health Health Misuse Relationship with because….at the visits you have to sit at the the father was in custody for 7.5 years as a way children table, at a certain seat and [name] couldn’t to manage their emotions and time apart. get out of the seat. Whereas at the family visits were a lot more open, walking around, “…a visit tends to get in the way of the flow During custody, mental health was the most experiencing active symptoms and generally talking to other families.” of time, if you imagine that your time is a steady flow, a flat rate, you see a visit as frequently identified support need. This was felt ‘well’ and/or were managing ongoing issues (Partner) followed by employment, substance misuse and, or diagnosis with medical treatment in order this big mountain, and all you focus on is as discussed in the previous section, contact to ‘survive’. Out of the remaining 9 who did not “[Family visits] are all right because you this thing approaching you. So emotionally with children. identify as having mental health issues during can get up and play so it’s good. You can you’re not engaged but it upsets the balance custody, 5 did not report mental health issues have more hands on…and kind of be normal of everything else you’re trying to do, your 5.5.1 Mental Health at any time in their lives. For the remaining 4, parent for like 3 hours so it’s alright yeah… routine. So I see this mountain approaching, their previous mental health issues were either Mental health was the most frequently identified warm food, and just like…it’s like naffy, just and the anxiety and everything else that directly related to the sentencing process or they need during custody with 9 out of 18 veterans chocolate, drinks, just naffy food.” reported feeling ‘well’ whilst in custody, often goes with it. I know how I’m going to be on involved in this study identifying as having linked to other needs being met such as housing (Veteran in Custody) the visit, so I’m just not looking forward to it mental health needs during their custodial and abstinence from substances. the way that I should be. Then you have this sentence. However, not all 9 veterans who visit, and then you’ve got the downer.” did identify mental health as an issue were (Veteran in Custody) 64 65 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

Thus, those veterans that accessed mental “I need psychotherapy because my life was health support did not directly correlate to in order from 16 in the Army. My life has those who identified mental health as an issue been in a set way and I can’t, it seems I can’t during custody. break out the circle that The Army has put “In here, the mental health…I have me in….It’s like I find it hard to live, live stabilised myself, not so much stabilised but in society, like with people, even family. managing, I don’t think this environment It’s not the same connection that I had is the right place to treat PTSD…I still treat from when I was in The Army and I reckon it as a hostile environment, which it is, and it’s faulted me somehow and I think I need previous section that despite acknowledging Outside of the recorded issues, veterans that’s how I’m dealing with everything.” some psychological just to tell me why I’m drinking large quantities of alcohol prior to reported accessing support from military thinking the way I am” (Veteran in Custody) custody and reporting negative behaviour in charities to deal with issues specifically linked (Veteran in Custody) relation to this, most veterans felt that as soon to their military service. For example, military In some cases, professionals also reported as they stopped, it was no longer an issue. pensions, badges or ID cards. that the parallels between operational tours “…it’s like a long process, you have to see Only 2 veterans reported accessing support for and custody could have negative impacts healthcare, you have to see mental health… 5.6. Support Needs – Families in terms of triggering trauma either from and every time I was going I was moving substance misuse during custody, including group and 1-1 work. Both of these veterans and Children military experiences or even childhood. The establishments and then…you have to re- appropriateness of the custodial environment for reported drug as well as alcohol problems. 5.6.1 Mental Health do the process…I don’t really want to go One spoke very positively about the support mental health treatment in general was raised into some group talk…To me I think I’m For the 10 family members interviewed, only by professionals, in the context of increasingly they received from the NHS drug and alcohol alright….everyone thinks…I wouldn’t mind team at the prison: 1, a teenage child, reported a mental health limited funding in the public sector. diagnosis. They described their anxiety as being seeing some professional 1-1, to see if it “…they are brilliant, honestly they are two “…it’s all about resources. We do not would help me.” directly linked to their father being in prison amazing people and without them I don’t and their fears around whom they could/couldn’t have sufficiently trained and sufficient in (Veteran in Custody) think I’d of got where I am now….I can’t trust with this information at school. number, members of staff who would be able “I was told that counselling is only for imagine my life back on them. For me to to pick up the pieces following some clinical “I think that most of my anxiety came from… people who are in prison for the rest of their come from where I did to saying that it’s intervention.” for some reason, this is the one thing I life.” massive” (Professional) (Veteran in Custody) would take back…I told the wrong people (Veteran in Custody) about my Dad and then the anxiety came Those that did express a desire to engage from the thought “Oh god what if they tell with mental health support reported varied Evidently, the combination of the environment, 5.5.3 Other identified needs perceptions of wellness, support on offer and everyone, I’ll come to school tomorrow and experiences with a variety of statutory and Contact with children (discussed in section 5.4) length/type of sentence influenced veterans’ everyone will be laughing at me.”” public services. For instance, long wait periods, and employment were the next most frequently engagement with mental health support whilst sudden changes in staff, eligibility criteria identified needs. Employment was generally (Child) in custody. or prison moves delaying and/or stopping responded to positively, employment was For the other 4 children interviewed, they support. A small number of veterans positively and was generally responded to positively, were between the ages of 5 and 6 years old and reported attending groups related to mental 5.5.2 Substance Misuse by attending as many courses on offer at the consequently, they were only able to describe health, such as anger management or prison. Many veterans reported accessing There was a stark drop in the number of veterans their emotions using basic, black and white understanding trauma but expressed a desire funding for more long-term study from the identifying as having substance (primarily language e.g. happy or sad. All 4 children for 1-1 psychological support. One veteran military via support from military charity prison alcohol) misuse issues ‘before custody’ compared reported feeling a mixture of happy and sad serving a 9 year sentence was working towards in-reach. Training/education spanned from basic to ‘during custody’ – from 11 to 4 out of 18 when their fathers left home. a transfer to a therapeutic prison. veterans. The general response from veterans maths/literacy, to vocational skills (painting, when asked about this was that, because they decorating, building, railway building) and more were unable to access alcohol or drugs, it was academic courses (psychology, business studies, not an issue. This supports the notion from the peer advisor certifications).

66 67 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

However, these more complex emotions has gone to prison, this child expressed the One partner struggled recalling many details, “Finances I’ve struggled with, probably the sometimes came out in other ways. For example, following. something she linked to the emotional impact biggest struggle.” a mother described finding her 6-year-old child of it all: “He is thinking….that he is alone, almost. (Partner) crying in their room and eventually, the child “…it has been almost a bit traumatic, some Like no one cares and there is nothing explained that they were worried their mother things thinking back…I find it hazy because Once the father was in custody, many of the would leave like their father had. he can do about it. Powerless almost…. just so much has happened.” partners we spoke to had to navigate a drop in Everything[‘s] going on, nothing has income by applying for benefits and/or finding, “Lonely. Yeah. My daughter’s finding it hard, changed almost, the world around him, no (Partner) sometimes multiple, employment alongside my eldest, she cries all the time” one else seems to bother. [And in his close However, even before the father enters custody, caring for their children. (Partner) family?]…things are just quiet almost.” a professional working with veteran families “So when he actually went away, I was at risk of entering the criminal justice system And this child speaks about the anxieties our (Child) on benefits for a while, for about the first character, Dudley the Dog might have when his reported high levels of mental health issues This feeling of isolation, quiet and powerlessness year but it was too much of a struggle…. Dad is away. which had a huge impact on the whole family: was a common feeling expressed by the children so I got two jobs and then benefits as well “Depression - massive depression; anxiety we spoke to. which helped.” “Worried…Where’s daddy? Erm…..what - a lot of anxiety, which really affected the (Partner) can he do? To get him back. And does he… For 4 out of 5 partners interviewed, they capacity of the parent because they just I miss him so can I have him. Can I go and reported that the interview with our research weren’t present. Their depression, anxiety Her partner in custody described the ‘sacrifices’ find him.” officer was the first time they had been asked and trauma was so much that it deflected she made to keep the family financially afloat (Child) about how the experience was for them. They and took them away from being able to… and provide for their children. did not report any mental health issues but did they were just about holding it together, Without answers, these worries and questions report investing a lot of emotional energy to ‘get “I think what she’s managed to do is she’s and not actually doing any work being there could lead to the child feeling guilt – that they on with things’, trying to keep things as ‘normal’ just sacrificed so much for herself in order and present for their children. And then the are not able to ‘get him back’ as well as sadness as possible for their children. for the kids to have these little things knock on effect of that was the poor mental in missing their father. which the school just expects us to be able “...it was always about [father] or the kids. health of the children.” to afford. She’ll say ‘well I won’t buy these A Family Project Worker working with children No one…I think [father] would ask how I was of offenders (military, veteran and general It would follow, therefore, that for many families trousers I’ve been waiting to get or this top obviously but it was never a big deal, no one population) explained the unique experiences of their mental health may already be an issue I’ve been waiting to get’.” really asked. I think people wouldn’t want to children with parents in prison, something they (whether it is identified or not) before the father (Veteran in Custody) refer to as ‘disenfranchised grief’: ask because they didn’t want to upset me, is in custody. Unless a service is specifically you know, I can cry, I cry at the drop of a hat “…it’s very isolated, there’s a real stigma to targeting the family, it is very likely that their One mother described receiving support so they probably…don’t want to rehash it out being in prison, whether that’s detention mental health needs will go unnoticed, especially from a military charity as her partner was for me.” for the mothers whose main focus is their simultaneously discharged from the military centre or prison. They’re a unique set of (Partner) children. and went into civilian custody. She had to move children basically, because they have all the herself and her children out of military married issues of someone bereaved but that parent “…I’m lonely sometimes, do I need to talk to 5.6.2 Finances quarters, find a house and apply for benefits is still around. So we’ve been doing a lot of someone?” before securing employment. work on disenfranchised grief, because they All partners interviewed reported finances being (Partner) the biggest issue for them once their husband/ are grieving for someone who is still alive, “…a lady from [organisation] in Yorkshire, partner went into custody. and that’s really tough, the isolation.” “…there were times when I would just lose it she came here to visit a couple of times (Professional) for a bit…I think if I’d have not got my kids “…the main struggle was finances. Finances and helped me apply for benefits because I it could have been worse, but they gave me were the worst.” didn’t have help to do that. And how to fill This isolation was evident in the interviews with everything in…” something to get up for in the mornings” (Partner) children. For example, when asked through (Partner) (Partner) the lens of a fictional character whose father

68 69 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

Two partners interviewed referred to regularly often using their rest days to run veterans Just like more ‘official’ forms of family support, • Meeting and assessing veterans new in receiving support from their extended family, forums or complete work they were unable to this often relies on the veteran informing custody including help with rent, employment and do in their working hours. The VICSO work their family of what support is available and housing. They both expressed that without appears to rely on this empathy and passion of verifying their service before work with the • Acting as a visible point of support for this support, they would not have been able an individual or a small number of individuals. family can begin. This work outside of a veterans (e.g. wearing military t-shirt) to survive. professional’s allocated remit demonstrates the There was wide support from professionals that • Checking in regularly with veterans to passion of individual workers. However, the encourage identification, to listen and liaise VICSOs should be provided with profiled hours, lack of monitoring of this additional work may 5.7 Support Available – Custodial arguing what is needed is: with support when necessary Sentence potentially place professionals and/or service “....a formal network of support in prison users at risk. • Organising regular veteran forums (ranging 5.7.1 Veterans in Custody Support Officers / from weekly, monthly to quarterly) that works – VICSO scheme good but Veteran Representatives We interviewed 9 veterans who were either officers should be paid to undertake this role Veterans Representative at the time or had • Organising activities and fundraising for Across the 13 prison estates we engaged with, as an additional responsibility, NOT rely on been at some point during their sentence, 2 of military celebration days there was wide support for the Veterans in their good will.” these were not fathers (not officially included in Custody initiative and each prison had an • Representing veterans at equality and (Professional) the veterans sample for this research). Having identified VICSO. However, this initiative a Veterans Representative was a mutually diversity board meetings lacked consistency and could quickly alter For those that did have profiled hours for their beneficial way of reducing the workload of with changes in staff/residents/workload. The varying levels of accessibility and types of veteran work, they were able to offer more the VICSO and providing veterans with an support on offer to veterans in custody, both The voluntary nature of the VICSO role in consistent and further reaching support. For opportunity to have a role in a community within many estates impacted on this consistency prison-based and from the charitable sector, example, providing ongoing support when the prison that they care about and belong meant that it was often unclear what was due to constantly changing shift patterns and the veteran was released or moved to another to. Veteran Representatives reported various the need to prioritise operational duties31. available. This clarity was highlighted as a need prison, or offering support to families and activities as part of the role including: by a Veteran Representative we spoke to: Peer support has been widely raised in existing children. However, a small number of VICSOs services as essential to any support on offer for without profiled hours did provide this support “It’s just knowing what we can and can’t veterans32. In this study, almost every veteran to families voluntarily, extending far beyond the have…I’m still not sure what I am entitled interviewed referred to the level of trust between remit of their role. to know and I’ve had questions [from other veterans, feeling an instant bond with other “If there is some outreach as soon as that veterans]…” veterans which enabled them to open up and person goes into the criminal justice (Professional) offer support. system…to the family, that says “hi, this is The majority of Veteran Representatives felt “If someone is an ex-soldier, you’d be more me”…I used to do this for people who had their experience as a veteran was sufficient to willing to help him because he is a part of wives or girlfriends at home that had small prepare them for the role and their awareness you, a part of the same family.” children or a family to support. I would of family support available varied greatly. There (Professional) contact them and say “look, just to let you was limited standard training undertaken know, this is me, this is who I am, if you or on offer for either VICSO or Veterans Of the 7 VICSOs interviewed, 5 of them were need anything please feel free to give me a Representative roles in relation to supporting ex-military and all 7 expressed a huge degree of ring, there might be some service charities families and children of offenders and/or the passion for the work they were doing. For 2 of out there that can help.” But a lot of that specific needs of veterans in custody and these VISCOs, their VICSO hours were included their families. This depended on the training/ reliance is then on, the veteran in custody to as part of their profiled hours, and 1 of these was education available, the support from the a full time 9am-5pm post. The other 5 reported stick their hand up and say “I’ve got a family VICSO/management, the level of family work taking on this additional work voluntarily, who need help.” already taking place in the prison and the (Professional) personal interest of the VISCO and/or Veteran Representative. 31. Albertson et al., (2019; 2017). 32. For example, Remember Veterans (2018).

70 71 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

5.7.2 Military Charities “There seemed to be a lot of reluctance in CASE STUDY 2: For many veterans, coming into custody was a lot of the charitable sector to extend that support to veterans in custody…by default HMP & YOI Parc, Endeavour Unit an opportunity to reconnect with their military experience and learn about the charitable the families of veterans would be…precluded HMP Parc, managed by G4S, was the first They run eight Veteran Family Days a year support on offer for veterans. from that support because their veteran of prison in the UK to develop the concept of a (quarterly for both the main and vulnerable the household or the family was actually in “I didn’t know anything about [military separate wing, specifically for veterans and prison population). These are similar to a prison environment” charity] and things until I come in here. first-time offenders. The unit was established general Family Days operated at most (Professional) in 2015, based on a growing awareness of prison estates, where the family can visit I didn’t actually know that there was so high numbers of veterans in the prison their father for an extended period of time, much help out there for veterans to be “I found out that although they say they do estate. The initiative aimed to offer veterans enjoy organised activities, eat together, honest with you.” certain things there was massive barriers a “familiar but not comfortable” environment and physically have contact with one (Veteran in Custody) put up saying no they couldn’t help with where veterans could benefit from being another. In terms of identification, holding that, they couldn’t help with that, they 33 around fellow veterans, but the presence of a specific family day for veterans provides As already established by existing research , don’t do this no more, they haven’t got this it was widely reported by professionals and non-veteran first time offenders would prevent an environment of safety and familiarity and funding, they haven’t got that. So it was veterans involved with this research that it from becoming so familiar that they were makes their families visible to the prison/ massive rejection really.” unable to adjust to civilian life back in the visitor centre staff and military charities. there is a plethora of military and veteran community. support services in the community. Within this (Professional) “We invite the charities and they bring magnitude of charitable support, confusion However, there was an acknowledgement that “Giving them the opportunity to come to was often expressed in finding in-depth or their stalls and their support, their pop- this support has increased in the last few years a small dedicated unit with a particular concrete support due to changing and variable up banners, information, guidance, and positive feedback was given about military approaches, criteria and project funding. culture is going to make it more likely that advice…certainly got that military feel charities providing prison in-reach. Depending first time in custody veterans are going to to it but again, the emphasis on there is In terms of support for veterans in the criminal on the prison/area, the charities’ volunteer engage with opportunities...they are going about family engagement. Around the justice system, recent research has found that caseworkers regularly attend veteran forums to see and read and digest information that edge of that is that kind of, fairly gentle, only 31 out of 1,888, or 1.6%, of charities that and offered support across a wide range of is on the walls…create an environment that awareness raising that the support is work with veterans, work with those in the issues. Predominantly, the help given by these is familiar but not comfortable. [You] don’t available is for you, it’s available for your CJS34. This is significantly less than the support charities was financial, accessing funding on want it to be overly militaristic, in what it children, it’s available for your families on offer for physical health, mental health and behalf of the veteran (e.g. ABF The Soldiers’ 35 looks like, what is talked about because and yourself in here….here it is, this is education/employment and supports the feelings Charity ) to contribute to courses, clothing, rent or white/brown goods to set up their home ultimately the purpose of that unit is to what it looks like, these are the people, of rejection expressed by participants and the real-life implications of this ‘reluctance’ on release. help them become successful citizens on these are the services on offer…this is of agencies to engage with these veterans and release…to avoid recidivism.” Any further forms of support were specific to not available to other prisoners.” their families. (Professional) (Professional) the veteran and varied widely from prison to prison. For example, a peer mentoring scheme As part of the offer to veterans across the supporting veterans for 12 months before/after whole of HMP Parc (not just the unit), there their release, veteran housing support, free calls is a full time Veteran Support Mentor who to veteran specific mental health support in offers support to veterans whilst in custody and prison cells and PTSD treatment. during their transition into the community (and between prisons). This support is extended out to family members if the veteran identifies this as a need. 33. Fossey et al., (2017); HLPR, (2011). 35. https://soldierscharity.org/ 34. Cole et al., (2019) https://www.fim-trust.org/ wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSC-Armed-Forces- Charities-in-the-Criminal-Justice-System.pdf

72 73 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

As with the VICSO support, a great deal of value “…we often find they think their partners was placed on the individuals offering support to don’t need support when actually they CASE STUDY 3: veterans in custody (either voluntarily or paid) might, they’re making that decision without SSAFA – Veterans in the Criminal Justice System being ex-military themselves. really discussing it” Particular challenges were reported in relation (Professional) SSAFA (Soliders, Sailors, Airmen and Families Families are able to self-refer and receive to those serving sentences for sexual offences, Association) provide a specific prison in-reach support from SSAFA’s community volunteer This is inevitably going to be further impacted where many services are not available to this service for veterans in custody. This support is caseworkers. SSAFA will contact the veteran if the family is separated and/or contact population. This generally related to specific provided by volunteer caseworkers throughout to confirm their service history before is irregular. Even for the families that are issues around risk but some professionals, the UK. commencing work with the family. Once this together, the majority of partners involved in felt that charities were worried about publicly is done, this work can continue independent this research were not in a relationship with supporting sexual offenders and how this may SSAFA volunteers and staff have a regular of the veteran. the veteran whilst they were in the military ‘taint’ their work. Due to the high number of presence at veteran forums and offer 1-1 and consequently their children were either veterans convicted of sexual offences, this support for veterans in custody in relation In our sample, the majority of support not born or very young. Therefore, it is likely presents a significant challenge for veterans to prison visits, ID, pensions, prison moves received from SSAFA was accessing funds and to be a strange experience for families to in custody, their families and the professionals or accommodation on release. This support financial support. For example, for one family suddenly engage with discussions, information supporting them. can continue once they are released into the SSAFA funded their initial travel for prison or services linked to their partner’s/father’s community. The veterans’ family members visits and for another, SSAFA accessed funds “…it almost seems as if you’ve got an military past if they have little connection including, dependents up to the age of 18 years to get the family new furniture. SSAFA also exclusive group of veterans being supported. with this. old, can also be supported. This can be help in offers practical support, such as supporting areas such as clothing (e.g. school uniforms) families to access benefits and signposts onto For me, who now works in a majority sex Other forms of military charity support and day-to-day living costs (e.g. goods more specialised services where appropriate. offender prison, I feel really uncomfortable mentioned which extended to the whole family vouchers, furniture), signposting to specialist with that.” were in relation to employment/training, and support (e.g. debt advice), accommodation this was only reported in prisons where there (Professional) advice or supporting family links. was substantial provision for veterans in custody The charitable support was extended to families (i.e. separate unit). when requested by the veteran, primarily supporting with things like travel for visits or However, one veteran expressed the kind furniture for their home. Asking about family of support he felt was lacking, which was was not a standard assessment question for most reflected in further feedback from professionals military charities and as a result, data around – they highlighted the limits of single issue/ family members is not routinely recorded. signposting services and the importance (and lack of) holistic and pro-active support for For families, knowing about and accessing veterans and their families. this support was dependent on the veteran 1) knowing their family might need support and 2) “…there’s not really deep down support, telling the military charity about this. The risk individual support or someone keeping of families falling through the gap when support an eye on how I am and how I’m doing.” is dependent on this line of communication (Veteran in Custody) was acknowledged by a professional working with families in a different context, the Military “I firmly believe that signposting doesn’t Corrective Training Centre. They shared that work. Anyone can sit there and say you they have altered their service to ensure they need to go to your doctor or the job centre capture the partner’s needs as: but they may need that hand-holding, they may need someone there to go with them…” (Professional)

74 75 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

5.7.3 Family Work There seemed to be very limited collaboration between the VICSO, FEW and/or charity Every prison involved in this research professionals, with no clear understanding of contracted out their visitor centre to an external who should take the lead with family support. charitable provider. This was generally run by a As such, a VICSO reported: Family Engagement Worker (FEW) and a team of volunteers, providing: a waiting area for “…in my experience I think there is a lot of families on visit days, support for families, play opportunities being missed in the outreach facilities in the social visits hall, organisation of work with families…not just veterans but all, family visits, 1-1 support for fathers in custody drop-in centres, getting other organisations and/or families when requested and running a variety of family/parenting courses inside the to come in and support families, to do drop prison estate. in sessions as part of the visitors centre, when that’s open to welcome families. There was a general awareness of the family Specifically for veterans they don’t do a great visits, play facilities and courses by the veterans deal of work, there is not much collaboration and their families. The visitor centre was between [family work charities] and described mainly in terms of a ‘waiting area’ [military charities] which is a shame.” with some acknowledgment of more passive offers of support e.g. via posters. (Professional)

“I’ve read the posters and stuff but no one’s 5.7.4 What is needed for families and 2) Proactive engagement as families reported Not having a single professional coordinating ever come to talk to me and I’ve never children? being unlikely to access support unless a this journey increases the risk of siloed working thought [of] anything of them…you know The general feeling from professionals, veterans professional made the first step. and the needs of families and children going when you see posters in places and you’re and family members was that the main things unnoticed. There was one example where this “I don’t know who deals with contact with like, oh yeah.” needed for families and children were: support existed – a family worker based in the (Partner) the family, but that [contact] needs to be Military Corrective Training Centre (case study 1) Increased awareness of family support on made, rather than that person [family 4) who provides national support for families Only a small number of veterans and families offer (for professionals, veterans in custody and member] thinking that they need help but of detainees as well as families of non-military interviewed were aware that 1-1 support from their families). don’t know where to go for it. The family offenders. This partner reported huge benefits the FEW was available for fathers and/or from this support: “I think the families need to be made more needs contact…rather than relying on the families. Again, the level of awareness varied “Yes….just amazing. I don’t know how aware of it….like the family days…once they fact that they think they need that help and depending on the size and level of support on go searching on the internet.” we’d be now without it. I think [child] is offer at each prison. For example, veterans are aware of it to reach out.” (Professional) a lot better she has dealt with things much serving sentences in a prison with a separate (Veteran in Custody) easier just being able to talk and to draw family wing expressed much greater awareness Another professional, who previously worked for of family support on offer, even though they were “Probably one of the reasons why they and to read what [worker] has sent her and a service within a charity specifically supporting to have a teacher involved with that and not on the family wing themselves. wouldn’t access it is because we [veterans] the families of veterans in the criminal justice don’t know about it, do you know what support her.” The most frequently mentioned form of support system, expressed her concerns when referring I mean.” (Partner) was the family visits and some specific courses to the parallel journey the child undertakes when such as: parenting programmes, story exchange (Veteran in Custody) a parent enters the criminal justice system: programmes and baby bathing. “…there isn’t one agency that takes sole responsibility for that child’s offending journey” (Professional)

76 77 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Needs of veterans, families and children – DURING custody

Most partners referred to the value of having “[Who do you think they might need around at least one other person to talk to who was them to make them feel better?] Mummy… going through the same thing. However, they Like my mummy right here... [You’re highlighted the need for more organised group mummy’s been around you lots?] Yep, loads support, something which could take place at and loads.” visitor centres and not necessarily need to be specific to veteran families. (Child) “It was nice to have someone know exactly But beyond ‘being there’, this first child what it is like. Whereas you can talk to your expressed frustrations with support being passive and wanting adults and peers to actively friends but it’s quite a big thing to go a ask questions, to show interest. This reduced prison to visit somebody, so it was quite feelings of being alone and the silence and nice to have someone to talk to.” stigma that tends to surround imprisonment. (Partner) “More questions about it. It feels so good “That’s what I wish that I had. Like another to just talk about it and someone, not only mum to talk to with that experience…groups actively listening but questioning about it. and things for families and children to go to, Just simple things like, how does it feel? prisoner families…” ...it feels really good to talk about it when (Partner) someone is actually listening and also curious about it and asking back….it can’t “…it would be the bit that I would enjoy, if go wrong. You can ask them and if they get CASE STUDY 4: you could enjoy a visit, you know like, we offended, you apologise and say it won’t said we probably all know each other better Barnardo’s Invisible Lives, MCTC happen again and now I know what to do. than…we sat and spent more time together If you do ask, and they appreciate it because than what we did on the visit…I think I This project operates in Essex, providing therefore securing long-term funding is it shows that someone cares. Show some would have done something where families information, advice and support to children, essential to keep this necessary service enthusiasm…” young people and families affected by parental could meet, because we’ve all been in running”. (Child) offending behaviours or the criminal justice different situations, people have experienced system. This involves 1-1 support and group As an additional part of this work, Barnardo’s different things.” Fathers often reported that, although they sessions to address the needs and worries of Invisible Lives are funded by the Armed (Partner) could not be there physically for their children, children with a loved one in any stage of the Forces Covenant Fund to provide a family they made peace with this to a certain degree criminal justice system. They also liaise and project worker one day a week to the Military For children, the importance of having their by ensuring they were provided for materially. train relevant agencies, such as schools, to Corrective Training Centre. This family mother and/or a figure of authority to support However, a professional working for a children’s enable them to better support children in worker sees every new detainee who is them was highlighted. charity working directly with families affected their care. identified as having children within their by parental imprisonment reported that they family and offers support to their family “The other parent. Friends and family. often debunk this common misconception in This specialised work is rare, essential and wherever they are based within the UK or I think sometimes authority, whether their training. Rather than money, or the latest under threat of funding cuts. As an employee abroad. If the parent consents, the worker teachers or whoever, an authority figure to clothes or computer games, what children of all reported: then contacts the parent in the community them just to know that they know and they ages have directly told them is: and offers remote support to the children, “We are the only service in Essex that are there. It is the worst when you feel it is “I want you to spend time with me, take me to provides this specialised support for parent and any services involved in their care obvious what is going on and feels like they e.g. schools/local authority. the park, watch a film with me.” [C]hildren’s children, young people and families and look straight through you….” basic needs are not the latest trainers and (Child) designer clothes – they just want time”. (Professional) 78 79 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Five Section Six Needs of veterans, families and Needs of veterans, families children – DURING custody and children – AFTER custody

Overall, for both veterans and families it seems 8. “Familiar but not comfortable environments” there needs to be more proactive engagement Providing spaces for veterans which offer the from services to families, increased awareness opportunity to reconnect with their military of existing support and a move to more holistic past but also prepare them for their return to models of support for both veterans and families the community. Separate veteran wings are a where family ‘time’ is prioritised. positive initiative at larger estates or a regional wing for several smaller estates. This includes 5.8 Recommendations continuing to build on the peer support already 6. Language available for veterans in custody but also create opportunities for family peer support, Changing the language used around for instance, making use of visitor centres to ‘veterans’ to ‘ex-Armed Services Personnel’ in provide support groups. Those in formal peer acknowledgement that many British veterans support roles should have access to regular and do not identify as ‘veterans’ and this may robust training relevant to their role, including preclude them and their family from receiving safeguarding/family work. support. The use of the word ‘support’ should also be reviewed by services as it seems to 9. Asking questions, recording answers create a barrier due to the ideas of weakness many veterans and family members attach Family circumstances to form part of standard to the word. assessments for veterans in custody, by both prison (VICSO, veteran representatives, and key 7. VICSO Services with profiled hours workers) and charity professionals. Once this data is recorded, it is measurable and a clearer Each prison to provide a Veteran in Custody picture of needs and what support is on offer/ Officer with profiled hours dedicated to this being accessed can be established. role. This could be across several members of staff to ensure consistent support via veteran 10. Holistic practice forums, veteran representatives and external charities. This commitment to profiled hours To ensure children and family members’ needs should include joint and recorded work with and wellbeing are supported and safeguarded, family engagement workers (FEWs), outreach to we recommend one organisation takes the lead families and standard training, covering family in coordinating support for the family and/or work topics such as safeguarding, domestic children with a parent in prison. For veterans’ abuse and parenting. There is also positive families, there is huge value to specialist support work to be done joining up veteran services where the nuances of military culture are within regions and VICSO support across the understood alongside expertise in family work. UK, offering spaces to network, provide mutual This whole-family approach to work needs to support and share best practice. be assertive and not just sign positing, offering ongoing emotional as well as practical support. This should include taking advantage of existing opportunities/materials36 and creating new strategies to raise awareness of family support available and services pro-actively engaging with families.

36. https://www.nicco.org.uk/directory-of-resources

80 81 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Six Needs of veterans, families and children – AFTER custody

In this section, we will consider resettlement plan. Much like experiences of “When it [ROTL] was first happening, it felt “…in an ideal world I would create some the needs of veterans, families and leaving the military, many veterans reported more like…I hate to say this, I really hate kind of strategic body that sits between the feeling ‘dropped’ when they were released children, as the veteran undergoes to say this…it would be like “ahh it’s one of two, military discharge/criminal justice, so and reflected on how this contrasts with their those days” because it was like that kind of that you could have a very real impact on a second significant transition from arrival into custody. unspoken thing, like he’s here and no one reducing the amount of military personnel custody into the community. Arriving “You’re met when you arrive in prison and wants to talk about why he is here, why he is that end up drifting into criminal behaviour at the final stage of the criminal you are checked and you are helped and back and why he has to go back…It’s weird, in prison because of a poor resettlement justice journey, this chapter will also you’re guided and held all the way through he’d be home for the day and I’d be like…. process into civilian world.” reflect on all the findings up to now, your prison [sentence] and then they just I don’t feel myself that day, I feel like I am (Professional) concluding this needs assessment. open the door and say you’ve got to walk a putting on this kind of act…I don’t know. I wouldn’t feel myself. But now it feels more For instance, this ex-military professional mile up there and here is the bus route.” working in the charity sector highlighted the relaxed to the point where I don’t feel myself 6.1 The second transition (Veteran Representative) need for a structured re-integration of service when he’s not here…that’s getting normal…” personnel back into the family home after time The anxiety around release being the ‘real 6.1.1 Out of custody…. (Child) away. Rather than going straight from being challenge’ was reported by children as well: away to being at home full time, he suggested Unlike civilian prison residents, veterans The challenge of this cross over period of slowly decreasing work hours and increasing leaving custody experience a second significant “It depends at what age it kind of happens resettlement for another child was also family time before full leave. transition. Much like their first transition from because if you are quite young then it has expressed by a mother we interviewed: military to civilian life, the real challenges more of an effect when the parent comes “[He] was really struggling, in fact, he’d just “You are away for 6-8 months in a dodgy seemed to begin when they were back in the back. They go through life thinking it’s done his first lot of home leave, just the days, place where people are dying and you come community. normal and that’s basically what’s happened the day release, and [son] were kind of just home and go on leave for 3 weeks. The wife’s “The main area of difference is the concept to me. It becomes so normal that the real couldn’t really cope with why he was coming coped, the kids have been fine and you start of transition. When they are leaving prison change is when they come back. And then and going you know…That were a really jumping up and down because you are not they are undergoing a second transition you start to feel weird when things are difficult time.” used to the little ones running around doing normal for everyone else but for you it’s from the military and then one from prison. (Partner) what they want; that’s your perception it’s If they haven’t transitioned well out of the weird. It gets flipped.” not the reality but you are used to telling There was a sense that this improved over military, it is compounded a second time but (Child) Harry to do something and he does it time as the family gradually got used to straight away because he is a Private and with the addition of a criminal record.” their father being at home again. Following 6.1.2 …into the community you’re a Sergeant. And you are back with the (Professional) ‘Recommendation 2’, this re-introduction into Staged resettlement plans or release on the family home is something that professionals family full time. No, re-integrate it, so they “In that respect it is not as much of a temporary license (ROTL) were reported by 2 noted as significantly lacking when servicemen are in work, see their mates and then give cultural shock when they go in, it’s when veterans coming to the end of their sentence/ return to their family home on discharge or them the two weeks leave.” they come out.” back in the community. There are four types of following operational tours. A senior manager (Professional) 37 (Professional) ROTL and two relate to preparing to return at a prison we interviewed felt there was a lot to the local community, family and/or parental that could be learned between military and Whether this is returning from an extended Following the “bath tub” metaphor, for the duties. This enables the family to gradually get prison resettlement processes. The level of period of working away whilst serving, veteran and their families there is a build- used to the father being back at home in the year veterans entering custody, he felt, reflects the transitioning out of the military (regardless up of anxiety in the run up to release. This is running up to their release and was described problems with current military resettlement of reason for discharge) or release from when support is most likely to be accessed, positively by a child we interviewed. and that things could be learned, both positive custody, this staged resettlement demonstrates either voluntarily or as part of the resident’s and negative, from the criminal justice consideration for the needs of the whole family resettlement process. and gives time for unavoidable tensions to settle within the family home. 37. https://www.gov.uk/guidance release-on-temporary-licence

82 83 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Six Needs of veterans, families and children – AFTER custody

The tensions that arise within the family home my size 9’s in saying no we’re doing this you 6.2 Resettling in the community when the veteran father is released from custody know what I mean? We were like that for, After custody were described as being rooted in the mother I don’t know, 4-6 weeks and we talked and and father doing what they need to survive. everything else and I’ll be honest, at minute Diagram 6: Support needs of veterans after custody Inside, the father adapts to the structure of we’re the best we’ve ever been, all the time prison and outside, almost at the other end of 8 we’ve been together, and that’s a lot to do the spectrum, the family’s survival depends on the mother becoming fiercely independent to with me changing from what I used to be to 7 what I am now.” keep life going for them and their children. 6 This is likely to be the experience for non-veteran (Ex-offender Veteran in the Community) offenders and families, but for veterans, this 5 is compounded by a lack of familiarity with “When he first came out, you know…I didn’t ‘independence’ as a legacy of military life, as look forward to that, you know he’d come 4 out for 4 days and I was like, oh will you mentioned in Section 4. Consequently, when 3 the father returns to the family home full time, please go back. Because it was my rules, it these two worlds may clash as demonstrated in was the way I did things, I went to bed when 2 the quotes from two couples below. I wanted to go to bed, you know, everything 1 was down to me and then letting him back Couple 1: in again and he was like, why don’t you let 0 “…she’s become very, very independent, me do that, and I’m like, because it’s habit, Housing Employment Mental Physical Substance Finances Family/ Contact Health Health Misuse Relationship with and all credit to her. And I’ve become very, I’m used to you not being around, I’m used children I suppose I’ve become dependent on the to doing everything.” prison service, and I’m re-establishing my (Partner) own independence again.” We asked a child interviewed if ROTL helped and In contrast to the needs identified before and This child quoted above made frequent reference (Veteran in Custody) if so, why: during custody, housing was the primary to the importance of a house. Unprompted, she need identified for veterans returning to the started our interview by making the speech “Oh yeah, definitely…because of that clash “At first it was strange, just getting used community. This was followed by mental health – above and when asked why houses are so to…I think with me, I am very proud of personalities, the ROTL helps you deal a consistent need throughout the whole journey important, she explained: “Because…because it and it was letting him back…I would feel with that in chunks rather than he comes through custody, albeit significantly reduced gives lots of memories.” She spent the rest of the embarrassed if there was a cupboard and home and there is two months where you’re on release. Contact with children, employment session making houses (below) for all her toys, he would go in and it was messy and he all screaming at each other because no one and finances followed. There is a notable drop in including our character, Dudley the Dog. would say ‘oh I’ll help’ and he would see it as knows what they should do or how they identified need around substance misuse which, helping whereas I would see it as, you have should talk or act in front of each other. At due to the majority still being in the controlled let yourself go now.” the start he is like a stranger, so it is good to environment of custody, is arguably aspirational rather than realistic. This will also impact the (Partner) have chunks of getting to know them again rather than having them dropped on you.” tendency to minimise problematic alcohol misuse, as discussed in the previous sections. Couple 2: (Child)

“…we were bad, we were bad me and [wife] Out of the 18 veterans interviewed, 16 were 6.2.1 Housing when I first came out, we were arguing like in custody and only 2 had been released back “…how about it’s really nice if you don’t hell, well not arguing, bickering and that, into the community at the time of interview. mind, it’s really good to have houses, and if Therefore, the information gathered from the don’t forget she’s been on her own for 3 and you don’t have one, or do, have a good day veterans in custody about their needs on release, half years, doing everything herself, doing every single day and even when your day is it her own way and I’m coming back sticking was based on prior experiences and/or what they envisaged the future would hold on their release. bad have an amazing life.” (Child) 84 85 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Six Needs of veterans, families and children – AFTER custody

The instability of night shelters or other forms This specialised support was regarded As the majority of the veterans interviewed of temporary accommodation can have huge highly and following a push to advertise the were imagining their needs on release and impacts on establishing regular and secure accommodation within HMPSS, an employee of for the main part felt that they were positively employment. For this Veteran Representative, a veteran homelessness project reported a huge managing their mental health within prison, through his own experience and supporting increase in number of veterans leaving custody it is possible that this may change nearer to or other veterans in custody, he felt employment, using their service. From this accommodation, after their release. One of the veterans in the family and housing were key to successful they were able to bring other forms of specialised community felt he would be able to deal with his transitions back into the community. veteran support such as mental health, family ongoing diagnosis of PTSD on his own, with the contact, domestic abuse and substance misuse. support of his wife: “It’s just the same old…money, families and This same employee highlighted the importance somewhere to live. I think the main one is of early intervention as many veterans entering “No, I’ll deal with it myself now, I can’t be homelessness at the moment…I haven’t got their accommodation post-custody are dealing arsed. Me and my wife will deal with it, she For 7 out of the 18 veterans interviewed, friends or family to go back to and before I with ongoing and multiple needs in the context always know when I’m not right, she picks housing was an identified need on their release of broken relationships and deep feelings of up on it straight away” into the community. As identified prior to came in here it took me about 6 months to shame and embarrassment as a veteran who has entering custody in section 4, housing was get a flat and then 6 months later I’m in jail (Ex-offender Veteran in the Community) for something that happened years ago. I’ve been into custody. recognised as a need which, if not addressed, And his partner explained: places the veteran at very high risk of spiralling lost that flat now. So it’s literally getting out “…what work is done while they are “I think he’s changed because he wanted back into offending. and finding somewhere to live that can give in service as well? What…that pre- to change, I think he’s changed because us stability and structure.” planning, it could be that when medical or “...homelessness it takes me every time. I he knew what he was going to lose. I think (Veteran Representative) dishonourable discharge…I think that work first went homeless in 2013 back in [city] his psychologist [in custody], I think she’s needs to be done on that before they enter and ended up in here. I went homeless again “My main focus is to sort my life out before helped him quite a bit, but [other] than the criminal justice system” back in 2017 and found myself back in jail.” I can be there for my kids. So I was trying that. [Is it something he’s looked into at all (Veteran in Custody) and they released me from jail… and they (Professional) to continue in the community?] It’s time… released me into a bail hostel that was a that’s the thing…we did look at, because he This veteran’s partner and mother to two Once again, the issue of responsibility is raised crack den so it was inevitable that I was used to do some counselling sessions, but children expressed her worries about the plans in relation to the MOD’s role in identifying and for him to go into a homeless night shelter at the gonna relapse. And I relapsed straight away. adequately addressing the support needs of they were just like, they weren’t like tailored end of his current sentence. She worried that the And I cut my tag off and went rogue.” Service personnel prior to leaving the military to one thing…they’ll be a huge waiting list instability of the night shelter, where he would (Veteran in Custody) and their role in offering ongoing support as well though won’t there?” have to check in/out each evening/morning throughout their transition and life back in (Partner) would increase his vulnerability, especially in “…for now its stability. If I can stop myself civilian community. the context of historical alcohol misuse. from going homeless. If I go homeless, that’s Long waiting lists and time (alongside full-time when I’m vulnerable to the streets and I 6.2.2 Mental Health employment) were given as a barrier to asking for mental health support from the NHS and “…he’s still fighting demons, do you know start messing up and I start coming in here.” From 11 prior to custody and 10 during custody, equally, the high cost of private mental health what I mean, and it’s very easy to say I’m (Veteran in Custody) the numbers of veterans identifying mental treatment. Placed in the context of military not going to do this, I’m not going to do health needs on release dropped to 4. Three of families being socialised to be self-sufficient, that, when none of those temptations are Specific housing support for veterans was these veterans reported that they would actively working as “a unit, you don’t share your presented to you because you’re in prison. available either via military charities helping seek support from the NHS on release, including business” (Section 4.3.2), this potentially places But when you come out and it’s there with funding to secure private rental medical and/or psychological support. increasing pressure on the mother and children and you’re not getting any support from accommodation or, depending on specific regions, charitable housing providers with to support the veteran’s needs. anywhere else and people are putting you in specific accommodation for veterans. quite horrendous situations, I’m just worried that they’re setting him up for failure” (Partner)

86 87 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Six Needs of veterans, families and children – AFTER custody

In the context of the aforementioned “clash of be either returning to their family home and/ “I think if there’s a level of honesty, I’d love “Well I think, it is what they put in last week personalities” once the father returns home, or regular contact with their children; 1 was to be able to sit down with my kids right because now I have been cut off from making being able to access information or services to already back at the family home; 6 reported now, I couldn’t do it before, because I was any contact, I don’t know if that affects any increase understanding or develop strategies receiving unclear messages about contact on not in the space, but sit down and say do you support for them. I know I’m coming out to manage this initial period of re-integration release; 1 was currently released and under know what I’ve not been in your life as much soon but if I’m in here for longer, will that could be a positive step forward. There is a clear assessment from social services with a view to as I should have done because I’m a bad bar them from getting any support?” window of opportunity here to increase the return to the family home; and 2 were clear that chance of positive integration and strong family they could not have contact with their children person. For some twisted reason I thought (Veteran in Custody) ties which in turn, may reduce the likelihood of on release. As we could not corroborate these that if I kept the bad away from you then it As mentioned in previous sections, access to the veteran re-offending. Two of the families we reports from fathers or clarify the extent to wouldn’t harm you. Well keeping the bad military charity support predominantly relies interviewed reported that, in preparation for or which social services were/were not involved, away from my kids has meant harm because on the veteran making the link in the first since the father’s release, they were considering we cannot make any conclusive statements. it meant their dad wasn’t there.” instance. Therefore, it is likely that there are couples counselling. What we can say is that many of the fathers (Veteran in Custody) many partners who are separated from/have no expressed uncertainty about what would happen contact with the father of their children who are “I think that’s something we’ll need to when they were released. They often appeared As already discussed in relation to supervision aware of or able to access support potentially discuss at some point. Because I think, to be guessing or their understanding of the expectations during arrest/sentencing available to them. coming out of prison, there are a lot of situation was based on their perception rather in Section 4, this lack of clear and timely hidden elements of your life that you’re not than having received a clear message from information was very difficult for mothers trying 6.2.4 Finances (and employment) really ready for.” safeguarding/risk management professionals. to ascertain what kind of family life they would be having once the father was released. Finances and gaining stable employment on (Veteran in Custody) “…it’s the only thing that’s really playing on release understandably go hand in hand. Much The other couple, with the support of probation, my head you know, obviously I just want to “I mean he’s not going to be on tag like housing, employment is key to reducing had sought funding from a military charity get out and see my kids straight away but I or anything, no, he’s not on tag, so the chances of reoffending. For those returning for counselling sessions. They reported that don’t want to break anything which I’m not nobody’s made it clear, nobody’s been to a family unit, there was a sense of pressure this request was turned down due to the father allowed to do right. I don’t really know what very forthcoming with information about to secure employment to support the family having a criminal conviction. Eventually they I’m allowed to do…At the end of the day they whether he’s going to be allowed to come financially, but equally to ‘prove’ their worth found a local charity offering free counselling want to keep me out of jail and the only way down here at the weekends, whether he’s after being in custody. for couples. We are not able to verify this specific allowed to stay here at the weekends. they are going to keep me out of jail is to “I think I’m going to be a workaholic when claim but it reflects a recurring theme from this Presumably that’s all dependant on an keep me off the streets.” I come out and the problem I’ll have is that research, that punishments administered to the assessment by children’s services which you veteran (whether directly or indirectly) not only (Veteran in Custody) I’ll be focusing so much on the business know, they know the release date is coming punishes the veteran, but potentially their family that I’ll end up neglecting family again. Not Equally, many were unsure of where to go to ask up because I told them but they haven’t as well. This secondary punishment has been because I want to but because I won’t want for support around contact with their children made any effort to get in contact at all or identified in the families of the wider offender on their release. to be coming back into that house without 38 do anything so I don’t know.” population and highlights the importance of a bringing something to the table. I want to whole-family approach to criminal justice work. “…if I had to guess I’d say you go through (Partner) be able to arrive and say ‘guess what, dad’s social services and they’d maybe try and alright’ you know, I can do this without 6.2.3 Family Contact A veteran we spoke to who was in custody and help you.” very recently had been told contact was no breaking the law, I can provide for you a For 26 out of 43 of the children included in (Veteran in Custody) longer allowed with his children queried what stress free life, not worry about the bills and this research it seemed they could expect some impact this would have on the support his give you something better than you’ve had Some were very reflective about the impact of contact with their father once he was released. ex-partner and/or children could access from over the last 7 years.” From the perspective of the veterans we their past behaviour, and how their attempts military charities. (Veteran in Custody) interviewed, 8 reported they believed they would to distance themselves (and their negative behaviours) from their children may not have been the best decision for their children. 38. Sutherland & Wright, 2017.

88 89 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Six Needs of veterans, families and children – AFTER custody

Much like the experiences around finding “[Last time] I had to go hide that I was a In the case of one family where the father had 6.2.5 Families and Children employment after leaving the military, there been back in the community for 4 months, both criminal and when I got caught out I lost my Rising up our “bath tub”, it is likely that for were varied responses about the ease with which parents worried about the impact him working job and I don’t want to go down that path most families, levels of uncertainty and anxiety veterans might find employment after being in away might have on the children. As the mother again. I want to go somewhere that accepts start to rise in the build up to the father’s release custody. Adding a criminal conviction to their explained: ex-offenders, I don’t have to hide anything, and their initial months in the community. military service seemed likely to compound there’s nothing, I know I’m secure, I know “I think that’s going to be a bit, they’re To fully understand this, the relationship prior difficulties in finding employment for many. going to think hmmm what’s happening to custody must be considered as any issues Some veterans spoke of past sentences where I’m not going to lose the job and that’s what now? You know, because we used to have occurring before, unless they are acknowledged disclosure of their criminal convictions meant I want to do.” and addressed with the family, may start to they struggled to get interviews, or their (Veteran in Custody) to count down to daddy coming, daddy’s surface again once the father is back at home/ employment was terminated with immediate 4 sleeps, then when daddy came home we in the community. Further research would help effect. A smaller number of veterans interviewed, Military charities which offer support to access had daddy’s forever sleeps. So that’s the way to understand the long-term effects of parental predominantly those who held specialised roles education and training opportunities were we did it, you know ‘when’s daddy’s next 4 imprisonment on the family and children. in the military (such as signals or engineering) mentioned on several occasions, although some sleeps?’ in 25 days, 25 sleeps until daddy’s 4 During this initial period of release, it is possible spoke very confidently about finding work reported mixed responses or lack of motivation sleeps. But I think that will, that does worry that families have much higher needs (due to on their release and envisaged earning high to ask for this support. The importance of me. But he’s got to work so…” challenges around re-integration) or lower needs salaries in sectors such as railway engineering family or friends in securing employment was (Partner) (a possible ‘honeymoon’ period) than later years. or water companies. A veteran in the community mentioned on several occasions and as reported in ‘Section 4’ of this report, also seeking who served as an engineer in the Royal Air Force They explained this anxiety might be increased The return of the father from custody was employment in industries or business run by for 22 years shared his experience of finding because initially the children were told the largely regarded as positive for the partners and ex-military personnel. 2 veterans were actively work post-custody: father was ‘at work’ when he went into custody, children we spoke to. planning to start up their own businesses on before later finding out the truth. Evidently, as “I’m a rail engineer…I just walked into this release to support and employ veterans with discussed in Section 5, what parents’ decide to “Since release, ah that was just…going to one, there wasn’t even an interview…they experience of being in the criminal justice tell the children about the father’s imprisonment collect him was just very surreal but just love people from the military because the system. This entrepreneurial spirit is a positive is likely to impact their level of trust in the great, great to have him back and being way we work, our discipline of work and our example of addressing employment issues but information given by their parents in the future. able to see the children for them to have quality is pretty much higher than anybody is possibly a demonstration of the tendency that contact again. That relief, we know he else out there because it has to be…In fact of Service personnel to opt for ‘going it alone’ For one family, the veteran committed his crime is safe, that he’s well. Yeah back amongst they love us that much, two of the lads I rather than having to rely on or trust others. very close to completing his full 22 years of service. This had financial implications for the us. I think we are still day by day…he sees work with now who started the same day as 3 veterans mentioned the French Foreign whole family as they would not be in receipt probation each week. We don’t know what me, one’s navy and one’s army, they’re all Legion, 1 before their custodial sentence and 2 of his pension until he reached the age of 60 the future is going to hold for us but it’s just aircraft mechanics. Yeah so it’s easy for us to were planning to apply once they were released. years old. looking at it positively and moving forward.” get that sort of thing.” As well as the obvious similarities this work (Partner) (Ex-offender Veteran in the Community) has with their service in the Armed Forces, in “…he was meant to get it when he turned 40, terms of the impact on the family, this would but because of his crime, he won’t get it until Working in the railway industry was mentioned “[Do you get to see him now?] Yeah. More again involve long-term absence of the father he is 60. So it is quite a big thing to lose…we most frequently and made accessible via from home. Other forms of employment which often, I like it. And not on the phone, I like had plans and everything for that money.” training course delivered within the prison involved extended periods of paternal absence it like that. [You like to see him in person?] estate. Alternative options for employment were mentioned, such as private security and (Partner) Yeah. I like more people in person, more mentioned made accessible via courses on than phone.” industrial management. Opting for employment Once again, the family and children are offer at the prisons were: the fitness industry, which involves long-term absence from the family negatively impacted by the father’s criminal (Child) gas engineering and tiling and decorating. home is in stark contradiction to many veterans’ conviction. Accessing employment via agencies in acknowledgement of the negative impact their partnerships with the prison estate was previous absence has had on their family and regarded as positive as it meant there was no children. Whenever the father is away, it is the need for secrecy or worries of being ‘found out’. partner that remains to maintain the family home.

90 91 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Six Needs of veterans, families and children – AFTER custody

It is important to note that all the families we However, she later described feeling sad when he A child we interviewed reflected these feelings This section provides further support for spoke to were together at the point of interview went away and, re-affirming the value children when sharing his worries about his father ‘Recommendation 10’, where one national and it is likely that things would be different for place on time with their parents, looking returning home: body should take responsibility for children families separated from the veteran. However, forward to him returning to: “For a while I struggled with thinking I of offenders. This would ensure appropriate the majority of partners we spoke to implied “Play[ing] with the cushions, and build[ing] wasn’t good enough, I think what was in advice and information is made available to that their relationship with the father had been service users (e.g. what and how to tell children a tower.” my head was my Dad has been thinking ‘off and on’ over the years and had experienced about their parent’s imprisonment) and the periods of separation during previous releases. (Child) about the kind of son he wants and when oversight of effective communication between he comes back he’ll look at me and think As discussed in Section 6.1.2 in relation to professionals/agencies. “Past releases have been bad because that’s not him.” ROTL arrangements, there is a necessary there’ve been a couple of occasions where period of ‘adjustment’ experienced by all (Child) 6.3 Support Available - ‘Through the Gate’ things were still not good between us and family members as the father returns into the The support available specifically to veterans I hadn’t been informed that he was being These anxieties may also be compounded by community. As this father in custody explains, and families ‘through the gate’ was equally released, so there were quite a few occasions regular professional intervention in the family thinking ahead to his release: home to monitor and manage risk to children. as variable as their first transition out of the where I thought he was still inside and he’d “At this point, I am in their lives but only military and into/through the criminal justice like show up at my door.” to a certain extent so…just the adjustment “And normally when people turn up [child] system. This depended on things such as the (Partner) I think of being there again and knowing will run away, she doesn’t speak to people, length of military service, type of offence, they can come to me again and they don’t she walks in and she normally puts people location, and perception of needs. This huge One partner reported her commitment to ‘stand variety was reflected in veterans and families have to just speak to me over the phone or who come into her house and want to speak by’ her partner. She explained that this got her expressing a lack of knowledge and/or through the last sentence but would not extend once a week in person that I’m always there. to us and to her about what’s happened, are people that are stopping me coming home. vagueness about the support on offer and how to another. I think that would be the thing. And also the to access it. worry that if certain things happen, that I’m As soon as she finds out you’re talking about “Every time, I’m not going to, you’ve got to going to react in a certain way or if there’s that she normally runs off.” “I know that people have been to see him haven’t you, I married him so, I’ve got 3 kids financial struggles then I’m gonna go back (Ex-offender Veteran in the Community) in there, but me and his mum and dad so yeah I’m going to stand by him. I won’t to dealing…” have spoken about, is this support going do it again. I would do it if he got recalled As we were only able to interview a small (Veteran in Custody) to continue or is this something that gets for some silly reason, but I won’t go through number of families with their father back in the community, to understand the needs in fuller offered to them while they’re in prison and another big sentence again, I just wouldn’t As identified in Section 5.5, there is a sense of detail, further research would be necessary with then what happens then? Once they’re out do it, I’m not going to put my kids through children feeling responsible for their father’s more families, including children of various the door, does it then stop? Is it something behaviour and their absence being a reflection it either.” ages. For fathers still in custody, their ideas of that he has to seek out?” of whether they are ‘good enough’ to keep their (Partner) their future release and the impact this may have father at home. As a professional reported: (Partner) on their families were aspirational and generally Response from children were sometimes “…well weren’t we good enough to keep based on the belief that they would be able to conflicting, with mixed feelings of unhappiness 6.3.1 Ongoing support from the military him on the straight and narrow?” “weren’t continue the good work they had demonstrated and excitement about their father returning we good enough for him to want to stay in prison (e.g. abstinence, educational What support was available from the military home. For instance, when asked about her out, weren’t we good enough for him not attainment, regular contact). Evidently the seemed clearer for veterans who had served father coming home, this child explained she for longer in the military. For the small wanting to be in trouble?” extent to which this positive change can would feel: number of veterans interviewed that were (Professional) be sustained depends on the environment “Umm…pretty good. But when he’s here I they return to which encompasses family close to completing their full service, they won’t be very happy.” relationships, employment, housing, finances, referred to various forms of support from their the wider community and what support is on unit and, for some, a plan to complete their offer/accessed. military resettlement once they were back in the community.

92 93 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Six Needs of veterans, families and children – AFTER custody

Just as we have seen in the transition from For the small number of interviews where military to civilian life in Section 4.2.4, this probation was mentioned, it was predominantly lack of formalised support from the military in relation to compulsory assessments, courses places ESLs and their families at higher risk or meetings the necessary boxes they had of negative outcomes in this second transition to ‘tick’ in order to complete their sentence. from custody to the community. Turnover of staff or safeguarding issues were reasons given for mistrust or difficult 6.3.2 Prison to probation relationships with probation. The mother quoted In terms of the VICSO support, in a minority below, expressed a great deal of frustration of cases where the role had profiled hours this in ‘chasing up’ probation in the run up to her support extended up to and beyond the veteran’s partner’s release: “When I met up with him a couple of months “I’d feel awkward walking in there and release from custody. This could take the form “It’s all a bit vague, everything very ago, my new probation officer is really good. asking because I don’t think I’m at that level of physically picking up the resident on the day vague and you feel like you have to chase, He said ‘how’s things with you and the where I need that. Even if worst came to of release providing ‘through the gate’ support, constantly chasing probation. She’s rarely wife’ and I thought that’s interesting that worst and I lost my job and [my wife] kicked signposting, referrals to community services there to speak to and I feel like just no one he’s asked that, that’s something that he’s me out, I’ve got lots of friends and family and/or sporadic ‘check-in’ phone-calls in the is very forthcoming with details of what he obviously encountered before.” that would take me in…I’d have to be on the weeks following release. is and isn’t allowed to do, which is risky, (Veteran in Custody) streets and stuff like that and I don’t think “So the benefits I have personally as a considering you know, they’re letting him I would.” worker, I’m in contact with a lot of veterans out on licence and you’d think they’d be a bit 6.3.3 Military Charities (Ex-offender Veteran in the Community) who are released, send me a text, how are more forthcoming about what he can and As identified in previous sections, within the can’t do. [And if he ends up breaking…] Charities providing prison in-reach support you doing? Has so and so been in touch, are plethora of military charities, a small number reported varied ‘transitional’ support, he’ll be recalled immediately and it’ll be no they still in touch, are they still working offer support to veterans in the criminal justice sometimes collecting veterans on their release with you?” one else’s fault but his own when in actual system and this varies widely between prison day and supporting them to access community (Professional) fact is it?” estates and geographical regions. In terms of services. (Partner) ‘through the gate’ support this appears to be For this VICSO, his post-release support was smaller still, with most support either in initial A professional explained that he felt competition tailored to each individual and focussed on Decisions made by probation are intrinsically stages of development or specific to certain for funding amongst veteran charities can often ensuring both the veterans and any community linked to children and families as their needs e.g. housing, procuring funding for take over what should be the primary focus of support they were linked up with prior to assessment of the veteran’s risk would feed white/brown goods or education/employment supporting the veterans themselves: their release were following through with this into social service assessments where a similar support. Military charities are evidently skilled “….a lot of veteran charities, they going for level of ‘vagueness’ was reported. Families commitment. This would inform his decisions at providing a high degree of practical support this funding or that, going for the same bag, around what charities he invited to offer support reported that often very little would happen but there is little evidence of ongoing emotional I can’t work with them and I can’t work with in his estate, making sure he only worked with throughout most of the custodial sentence and support. Most veterans were aware of support agencies which ‘walk the walk’ as it were: then suddenly happen all at once just before available and advised they would access this, them….sometimes it’s like a school ground and I’ve had to get them together to say stop “If the information comes back that it was or after the veteran’s release (as mentioned in either directly or via probation, if things started Section 6.3.3) it. The people that you are working with all talk…you will not be welcome here.” to go downhill. Even then, this veteran in the community saw this as a ‘last resort’ and are falling through the cracks. They are (Professional) Positive experiences of probation were reported described his feelings about going into a falling through the cracks because of you, where officers had made efforts to get to know drop-in centre: please work together. You can do something Probation was mentioned rarely by veterans the family as well as the father, some conducting and families, most likely due to the majority of home visits, contacting the mother on the different to what he’s doing, know what he’s veterans interviewed still being in custody. phone or simply asking questions to open up doing different, cos if you can’t do it, pass conversations about family life in the lead up to them onto him. It’s about the guy.” and after release: (Professional)

94 95 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Section Six Needs of veterans, families and children – AFTER custody

Some professionals identified the lack of young 12. Joint ‘through the gate’ practice CASE STUDY 6: veterans in the workforce providing support as This would be reinforced by established VICSOs a potential barrier to the veterans in need. One services with profiled hours (Recommendation Care After Combat – Project Phoenix VICSO reported actively encouraging veterans 7), enabling VICSOs to offer formalised leaving custody to volunteer, but the voluntary This project is unique in offering in-depth peer We interviewed one veteran who engaged support for veterans between custody and the nature of this work was a barrier for most mentoring support for veterans in custody informally with the project whilst in custody community. This coordinated support should veterans whose main objective on release has across the transition into the community. The but did not sign up to the whole programme. extend to families by joint working with and to be employment. support starts in the final 18 months of their He explained that he did not feel he needed between probation, regional Armed Forces sentence and continues up until 12 months the additional support but benefitted from “The 50yr old guys who have seen frontline Covenant groups, the police, military charities, after their release. Project Phoenix operates informal mentorship and had in fact been service in the Falkland Islands or Northern children’s services and/or other community in selected prison estates; it is specific to the asked to train to become a mentor himself. Ireland is very different to a young guy services/specialist support. This multi-agency veteran (no family support) and is not available He was keen to do this but reported that his working ensures clear communication and who has seen 3, 4, 5 back to back tours in to veterans convicted of sexual offences. full-time work prevented him from taking on shared support planning, acknowledging the any additional volunteering. Afghanistan. So, I’ve signposted a few people expertise and role of each agency. All mentors undergo formal training, to [military charity] in the hope that they initially validated by the National Offenders go and do the caseworker training and they 13. Paid opportunities for peer support Management Service and upgraded quarterly can give something back. But again that is Military charities offering paid roles for as part of their ongoing professional voluntary, it is not paid employment” development. veterans released from custody to provide (Professional) support/mentoring to veterans in custody. This would increase representation of 6.3.4 Family Work Service experience in military charities and There was very little mention of family support ensure consistency of services, training and post-custody. Any mention of military charity documentation across regions. support for families was generally in relation to practical support as previously mentioned. 14. Continued research Support from a social worker and/or family In acknowledgement of the limited information support worker was mentioned where contact we have on the experiences of families post- arrangements were being assessed. release, further research should be undertaken to understand the short and long-term 6.4 Recommendations impacts of criminal justice on families and family relationships when the veteran parent 11. Shared Learning returns home. There is a key opportunity for the MOD and HMPPS to share learning and strategies around military and custodial resettlement. Adopting strategies which consider the practical and psychological impact for veterans and their families, with an opportunity for gradual re-integration back into family life and to increase the chances of positive family relationships in the community.

96 97 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Conclusion

This report explored the needs of due to the complexity of cases, develop The risk of family breakdown during and after the work of the MOD, HMPPS and other public veterans in custody, their families collaborative ways of working with other military service could be reduced further by and charity professionals working with veterans agencies and sharing expertise. the provision of education to increase families’ in custody, we would urge the adoption of the and children. We considered their awareness of military life and transition for recommendations made in this report. needs before, during and after custody This research would benefit from a larger veterans and vice versa, to increase serving and placed this in the context of consultation with families and children. Our personnel’s awareness of the impact of military We recognise that funding will be required to ability to identify families and children was life on their families and children. achieve this, to invest in further training and past military service which varied in greatly limited by the lack of formal reporting of service development initiatives. Much can terms of role and experience, length family data by agencies involved. This, and the This report indicates a level of unmet need be learnt from the existing evidence of good of service and reason for leaving. tendency for families to avoid asking for help for children and families connected to fathers practice and innovative collaborations between There was also significant variance or not knowing what or when to ask for help, with military experience who have gone on to public agencies and the charity sector inside and means that many families are not accessing commit significant crime. In order to support outside of the custodial setting. between the length of time between the any support or if they are, only when they are veterans leaving military service and in crisis. For those that did participate this was entering the criminal justice system. one of the few and for some the only time, they had been asked about how this experience was for them. They were unsure what they should The vast majority of existing research into why deal with alone and when to ask for support. and how veterans enter the criminal justice Partners and children spoke of wanting spaces system focusses on the veteran with very little to share with peers who have gone through the consideration for the wider impact on the same experiences as them and for professionals family left at home. The absence of the father to ask questions and above all, to listen. Further from the family home can be seen as a common research is needed to gain more insight into the theme during military service and custodial experiences of families and children, including sentences. On the one hand, this can provide a looking into experiences post-release to greater sense of resilience but on the other, this understand the long-term impacts for veterans, increased sense of self-sufficiency can isolate their families and children. families and children and act as a barrier to reaching out for support. This is compounded We acknowledge the actions taken by the MOD further by an apparent lack of knowledge around to improve resettlement planning and support what support is available, particularly for on offer. We feel these efforts need to go further families who are separated from ‘their’ veteran still, especially for the veterans and families who and/or families who were not present whilst the are particularly vulnerable on leaving such as veteran was in the military. ESLs and/or those dishonourably discharged. In terms of early intervention, the MOD has a Many of the findings in this report are reflected responsibility to assess the needs of recruits and in the experiences of families of the general provide ongoing support to service personnel offender population. There is no doubt that and their families throughout and after their more specialised support is needed for all service. This should be made directly available children of offenders which includes support to dependents, separately and in addition to for key caregivers in their lives such as parents support for the veteran as well as addressing the and teachers. This should also include one structures and culture of the military which can agency taking responsibility for overseeing make some Service Leavers vulnerable to family and supporting children of offenders. In the breakdown, substance misuse, mental health context of limited funding opportunities, free issues and criminal activity in civilian life. All resources exist on the NICCO39 website to these factors are classed as ACE’s, and require support any professionals working with children early intervention to reduce the likelihood of of offenders. Individual practitioners can adopt negative outcomes for children in later life. these resources to suit their service and,

39. www.nicco.org.uk

98 99 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Glossary of Services

A list of support services for veterans, offenders and families. These support Care after Combat Military Community Veterans Centres Project Nova services were either involved in this Area: National Area: Rotherham & the surrounding area Area: East of England, North West, North East and South Yorkshire and Humberside. research project or were mentioned by Care after Combat provides professional The aim of the MCVC is to provide an those we interviewed. This is not a full assistance for the wellbeing of veterans and their information service to help all serving and Project Nova provides support to Veterans list of the support available in the UK. families, with a focus on alcohol misuse and on ex-service military personnel and their families, who are arrested or are at risk of arrest. It is veterans within the CJS. with members and volunteers on hand to provide delivered as a partnership between The Forces advice on issues such as health care, housing, Employment Charity (RFEA) and Walking With They launched project Phoenix in 2015, which employment and benefits. The Wounded (WWTW). Support for Veterans & their Families offers mentorship to Veterans in Custody during the final 18 months of their sentence and for at They also run weekly and fortnightly meetings The organise support for: accommodation; least 12 months following release, with the aim where the veterans of Rotherham and its employment, education and training; drugs Active plus of reducing the number of re-offending veterans surrounding areas can get together to share and alcohol; finances and debt; mental health; released from prison. their stories and discuss aspects of their day children & families; attitudes and thinking. Area covered: Devon, Somerset, Dorset and to day lives. Wiltshire www.careaftercombat.org 0300 343 0255 www.veteransgateway.org.uk 0800 9177299 Active plus use the skills, experience and www.rotherhammcvc.org.uk expertise of injured military veterans, and those Combat Stress PTSD Resolution suffering from PTSD, to deliver courses and NHS Veterans’ Mental Health Transition, activities for people who are unemployed, older Area: National Area: National people who are lonely or isolated, people with Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) A charity specialising in veterans’ mental health, PTSD Resolution is a charity that offers health conditions, including mental ill-health, Area: National and young people at risk of leaving school supporting those with mental health problems counselling to UK Armed Forces’ Veterans, without qualifications or work. such as anxiety, depression and PTSD. This is a dedicated local-community-based Reservists and families to relieve mental health service for veterans and those transitioning out problems resulting from military service. They offer a range of treatment services in www.activeplus.org.uk 01326 567174 of the Armed Forces with a discharge date. the community, at specialist centres, on the PTSD Resolution therapists also work in phone and online, and develop a personalised prisons, and there is an active programme of Alabaré: Homes for Veterans programme for each veteran’s individual NHS Veterans’ Mental Health Complex engagement with the prison service nationally. needs with a combination of psychological and Area: South of England and Wales psychiatric treatment, and occupational therapy. Treatment Service (CTS) They also offer employers Trauma Awareness Area: National Training to support the successful integration Alabaré’s Homes for Veterans provide www.combatstress.org.uk 0800 138 1619 of Veterans and Reservists in the workplace. supported accommodation to British Armed An enhanced local-community-based service for Forces Veterans who are homeless or at risk ex-service personnel who have military related www.ptsdresolution.org 0300 302 0551 of becoming homeless. Help for Heroes complex mental health problems that haven’t improved with earlier care and treatment. They provide dedicated support to Help for Heroes offer physical, psychological, The Ripple Pond Veterans across the South of England and career, financial and welfare support to veterans www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/military- Area: National Wales - specifically; Wiltshire, Hampshire, with illnesses and injuries attributed to their healthcare/nhs-mental-health-services- Gloucestershire, Devon, Dorset as well as service in the Armed Forces, and their families. for-veterans/ A UK wide self-help support network for North and South Wales. They offer a wide range of support including the adult family members of physically or www.alabare.co.uk 01722 322 882 recovery programs, support hubs, grants, emotionally injured Service Personnel and career advice, business experience, mental Veterans. Offering support in the form of: group health support and programs for very seriously meetings; a private online forum; a confidential injured veterans advice and support from staff members; and a buddy system. www.helpforheroes.org.uk 0300 303 9888 www.theripplepond.org 0333 900 1028

100 101 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Glossary of Services

Support for Fathers / Separated Royal British Legion (RBL) Veterans Contact Point Veterans Outreach Support (VOS) Families Area: UK & Oversees Area covered: Coventry and Warwickshire Area: Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight RBL provide a wide range of support for those A service created by, staffed by and ran by VOS has been providing a monthly drop-in in the Armed forces, veterans, and their families, veterans for veterans. facility for ex-serviceman and their direct Families Need Fathers (FNF) from providing expert advice and guidance, family members since July 2008. The Drop- Area: National to recovery and rehabilitation, through to They provide a confidential and free service for In is a welcoming and relaxed place for UK transitioning to civilian life veterans and their families living and working veterans and their direct family members to FNF is a UK charity supporting dads, mums in Coventry and Warwickshire. come for confidential welfare or psychological and grandparents to have personal contact and They offer direct support to veterans in custody, meaningful relationships with their children www.veteranscontactpoint.co.uk support or simply to meet for a sociable chat. and their families, whilst in prison and on Representatives from numerous agencies attend following parental separation or for those release. the drop in sessions to offer a wide range of whose children’s relationship with them is under threat. They offer information, advice Veterans Change Partnership support. www.britishlegion.org.uk 0808 802 8080 and support services for parents on how to do Area: National www.vosuk.org 023 9273 1767 the best for their children. They offer support via a national telephone helpline, local branch SPACES The VCP is specifically intended to provide meetings, counselling support groups and Area: National comprehensive and intensive residential Warrior Program online support. programmes of rehabilitation, intervention and Single Persons Accommodation Centre for the support to those former military personnel and Area: National (Residential Courses based www.fnf.org.uk 0300 0300 36 Ex Services, SPACES, is a housing advice and their families, who have entered or are at risk of in Wiltshire/North Yorkshire) placement service for veterans. They help to entering the CJS. The warrior program works with serving secure appropriate accommodation across the personnel, veterans and adult family members. Separated Dads UK for those who leave the Armed Forces to www.veteranschangepartnership.co.uk 07779221162 They provide residential courses to enable Area: National, Web-based reduce the risk of homelessness or rough individuals to manage their emotions and to sleeping. develop resilience, focus and motivation, using Separated Dads is a web-based resource supporting separated fathers. This site brings The Veterans’ Gateway a specially developed programme to meet www.riverside.org.uk/care-and-support/ together numerous articles and guides covering veterans/spaces/ 01748 833797 the demands and challenges experienced by Area covered: National members of the Armed Forces and their families. support topics such as; emotional; financial; legal; negotiation; practicalities; psychology; A partnership between The Royal British www.warriorprogramme.org.uk/veterans/ separation and court processes. They also offer SSAFA Legion, Poppy Scotland, SSAFA, the Armed 0808 801 0898 an online forum. Area: UK & Oversees Forces charity, Combat Stress and service provider Connect Assist. Funded by the Armed http://www.separateddads.co.uk/ SSAFA provide a wide range of support for Forces Covenant Fund. Hugh James Solicitors Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. Their focus is on providing direct support to They provide the first point of contact to a Area: National. Offices in Cardiff and London. Support for Offenders and Families individuals in need of physical or emotional care. network of military and non-military partner organisations. Hugh James Solicitors have a team specialising Prison Visit Centre Services SSAFA has a prison “in-reach” team that work in military service legal matters and help Visit centre services operate at each prison, with veterans serving prison sentences and www.veteransgateway.org.uk 0808 802 1212 military service personal who need to bring offering support and advice to families and representatives visit prisons through the UK. a claim against the MoD due to a failure to prisoners. The centres are run by charities such SSAFA will also provide on-going support on adequately protect from illness or avoidable as PACT, Nepacs, Ormiston Families, Barnardo’s release. They also provide support for families injury. They offer also offer advice on wills and or Spurgeons. To find out who provides the of veterans in custody and on release. probate, and independent financial advice. service at a specific prison visit the Prison www.ssafa.org.uk 0800 731 4880 www.hughjames.com 033 3016 2222 Information page at www.justice.gov.uk or at www.nicco.org.uk.

102 103 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Glossary of Services Bibliography

Albertson, K., Banks, J., Murray, E. (2017) Cripps, H., Galisteo, S., Horsman, J., Hunt, Storybook Dads ‘Military veteran-offenders: Making sense of S., McInnis, K., Reid, A., Scarff, N.,Smith, Prison-based developments in the debate to inform service A., Walters, J., Willis, S. (2014) Resettlement delivery.’ Prison Service Journal 234:23-30 provision for adult offenders: Accommodation Story book dads is run within prisons and [draft version emailed by author]. and education, training and employment. facilitates and encourages prisoners to make A joint thematic review. [online] Available from bedtime story discs and other educational and Banks, J. & Albertson, K (2018) ‘Veterans and https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/cjji/ personalised gifts, such as memory books, violence: An exploration of pre-enlistment, wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/09/ calendars and pop-up books, to send home to military and post-service life.’ European Journal Resettlement-thematic-for-print-Sept-2014.pdf their children. of Criminology [copy emailed by Author]. [accessed 23/7/2018]. www.storybookdads.org.uk Brunton-Smith, I & McCarthy, D.J. (2017) DASA (2010) Estimating the proportion of ‘The Effects of Prisoner Attachment to Family on prisoners in England and Wales who are ex- Re-entry Outcomes: A Longitudinal Assessment.’ Armed Forces – further analysis. MOD: London Barnardo’s Invisible Lives British Journal of Criminology, [online] 57:463- Available from http://www.ohrn.nhs.uk/ 482. Available from https://academic.oup. resource/policy/ProportionofPrisonVets.pdf Area: Essex, South East com/bjc/article/57/2/463/2623932 [accessed [accessed 9/5/18]. 17/5/2018]. This project operates in Essex, providing Dandeker, C., Wessely, S., Iversen, A., Ross, information, advice and support to children, Centre for Social Justice (2014) Doing our Duty: J. (2006) ‘What’s in a Name? Defining and young people and families affected by parental Improving transitions for military leavers. Caring for “Veterans” The United Kingdom in offending behaviours or the criminal justice Centre for Social Justice [online]. Available from International Perspective.’ Armed Forces and system. This involves 1-1 support and group https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/ Society [online] 32:161. Available from https:// sessions to address the needs and worries of core/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Military.pdf www.kcl.ac.uk/kcmhr/publications/assetfiles/ children with a loved one in any stage of the [accessed 9/5/18]. veterans/Dandeker2006-whatsinaname.pdf criminal justice system. They also liaise and [accessed 28/7/18]. train relevant agencies, such as schools, to Centre for Social Justice (2016) Military enable them to better support children in Families and Transition. Centre for Social Diehle, J., Brooks, S.K., Greenberg, N. (2016) their care. Justice [online]. Available from https://www. ‘Veterans are not the only ones suffering from centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/core/wp-content/ posttraumatic stress symptoms: what do we https://b.barnardos.org.uk/essex-capi-service uploads/2016/06/MILITARY-FAMILIES.pdf know about dependents’ secondary traumatic 01268558448 [accessed 9/5/18]. stress?’ Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Centre for Social Justice (2017) The Forgotten Epidemiology [online] 52:35-44. Available from Role of Families: why it’s time to find our voice https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ on strengthening families. Centre for Social PMC5227001/pdf/127_2016_Article_1292.pdf Justice [online]. Available from https://www. [accessed 10/5/18]. centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/core/wp-content/ Fair, H. & Jacobson, J. (2016) Family uploads/2017/11/The-forgotten-role-of-families- Connections: a review of learning from the why-its-time-to-find-our-voice-on-families-1.pdf Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Prison [accessed 10/5/18]. Reform Fellowships – Part II. Prison Reform Cooper,L., Jones, M., Fossey, M. (2018) National Trust [online]. Available from http://www. Audit of Support for Veterans in the Criminal prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/ Justice System: A report for the Cobseo Criminal WCMT%20family%20briefing.pdf [accessed Justice Cluster Group. Veterans & Families 23/7/18]. Institute for Military Social Research, Anglia Ruskin University. [copy sent to researchers by author].

104 105 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Bibliography

Fear,N.T., Reed, R.V., Rowe, S., Burdett, H., Jones A; Wainaina-Wozna, A (Eds) (2013) MacManus, D., Dean, K., Jones, M., Rona,R.J., Ministry of Justice [MOJ] (2015) Update on Pernet, D., Mahar, A., Iversen, A.C., Children of Prisoners: Interventions and Greenberg,N., Hull, L., Fahy, T., Wessely, S., Fear, progress in addressing the needs of ex-armed Ramchandani, P., Stein, A. and Wessely, S. mitigations to strengthen mental health, N.T. (2013) ‘Violent offending by UK military services personnel in the criminal justice (2018) ‘Impact of paternal deployment to the University of Huddersfield. personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan: a system [online]. Available from https://assets. conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and paternal data linkage cohort study’. The Lancet [online], publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/ post-traumatic stress disorder on the children of Kelly, J. (2014) The needs of ex-service personnel 381: 907–17. Available from https://www.kcl. system/uploads/attachment_data/file/486698/ military fathers.’ British Journal of Psychiatry, in the criminal justice system: Evidence from 2 ac.uk/kcmhr/publications/assetfiles/iraqafghan/ response-to-phillips-review.pdf [accessed Jun; 212(6):347-355. surveys. MOJ, [online]. Available from https:// macmanus2013violentoffending.pdf 10/12/19]. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ Fossey, M., Cooper, L.,Godier, L., Cooper, A. uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ Markson, L., Lösel, F., Souza, K., Lanskey, C. Ministry of Justice [MOJ] (2016) Prison (2017) A pilot study to support veterans in the file/389856/the-needs-of-ex-service-personnel-in- (2015) ‘Male prisoners’ family relationships Safety and Reform. [online] MOJ. Available criminal justice system – Final Report.[online] the-cjs-analytical-summary.pdf and resilience in resettlement.’ Criminology from https://assets.publishing.service.gov. Anglia Ruskin University. Available from: http:// & Criminal Justice [online] 15(4) 423–441. uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ www.fim-trust.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ Lord Ashcroft (2014) The Veterans’ Transition Available from https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-fau/ attachment_data/file/565014/cm-9350-prison- Project-Nova-Report.pdf [accessed 5/5/18]. Review. [online]. Available from: http://www. files/8187/Markson_male.pdf [accessed 3/8/18]. safety-and-reform-_web_.pdf veteranstransition.co.uk/vtrreport.pdf [accessed Glover, J. (2009) Every night you cry: The 18.12.19]. May C., Sharma N. and Stewart D. (2008), Murphy, D., Palmer, E. & Busuttil, W. (2016) realities of having a parent in prison. Barnardo’s Factors linked to reoffending: a one year ‘Mental Health Difficulties and Help-Seeking [online]. Available from http://www.barnardos. Lord Farmer (2017) The Importance of follow up of prisoners who took part in the Beliefs within a Sample of Female Partners of org.uk/everynightyoucry_briefing_final_double. Strengthening Prisoners’ Family Ties to Prevent resettlement surveys 2001, 2003 and 2004. UK Veterans Diagnosed with Post-Traumatic pdf [accessed 13/7/18]. Reoffending and Reduce Intergenerational London: MOJ. Stress Disorder’. Journal of Clinical Medicine, Crime. MOJ [online]. Available from https:// [online] 5 (68). Available from: https://www. Hatch, S.L., Harvey,S.B., Dandeker, C., Burdett, assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ Ministry of Defence [MOD] (2016) Armed Forces kcl.ac.uk/kcmhr/publications/assetfiles/2016/ H., Greenberg, N., Fear, N.T. and Wessely, S. uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ Covenant [online]. Available from https:// Murphy2016b.pdf [accessed 10/12/19]. (2018) ‘Life in and after the Armed Forces: social file/642244/farmer-review-report.pdf [accessed assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ networks and mental health in the UK military’. 17/5/18]. uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ Murray, J and Farrington, D.P (2005) ‘Parental Sociology of Health and Illness [online], 35:7. file/578212/20161215-The-Armed-Forces- imprisonment: Effect on boys’ antisocial Available from https://www.kcl.ac.uk/kcmhr/ Lord Farmer (2019) ‘The Golden Thread? Covenant.pdf [accessed 9/5/18]. behaviour and delinquency through the life publications/assetfiles/2013/Hatch2013a.pdf Families, Prisons and Therapeutic course.’ Journal of Child Psychology and [accessed 10/5/18]. Communities.’ Prison Service Journal, 241: 3-10 Ministry of Defence [MOD] (2018) Service Psychiatry, 46:1269-1278. Leavers’ Guide 2018. [online]. Available HM Government (2018) The Strategy for Our Lyne, C & Packham, D. (2014) The needs of from https://assets.publishing.service.gov. Ofsted (2011) Children in Service families: The Veterans. [online]. Available from: ex-service personnel in the criminal justice uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ quality and impact of partnership provision for https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ system: a rapid evidence assessment. MOJ attachment_data/file/723867/Service_Leavers_ children in Service families [online]. Available government/uploads/system/uploads/ [online]. Available from http://data.parliament. Guide_July_2018.pdf from http://www.rnrmchildrensfund.org.uk/ attachment_data/file/755915/Strategy_for_our_ uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2015-0010/The_ wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Children-in-Service- Veterans_FINAL_08.11.18_WEB.pdf [accessed needs_of_ex-service_personnel_in_CJS_rapid_ Ministry of Justice [MOJ] (2013) Transforming families.pdf [accessed 4/7/18]. 18/12/19]. evidence_assessment.pdf [accessed 10/5/18]. Rehabilitation: A strategy for reform [online]. Available from https://consult.justice.gov. Phillips, S. (2014) Former Members of the Armed HMIP (2014) Ex-Service Personnel Macdonald, A. (2014) An exploration of the uk/digital-communications/transforming- Forces and the Criminal Justice System [online]. Supplementary Paper: Veteran data from Veteran Cohort within Durham Tees Valley rehabilitation/results/transforming- Available from https://assets.publishing.service. HM Inspectorate of Prisons’ inspection Probation Trust. Managing military identity rehabilitation-response.pdf gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ surveys. [online]. Available from https://www. within the Criminal Justice System, ideas for the attachment_data/file/389964/former-members- justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp- future. Probation Chiefs Association [online]. Ministry of Justice [MOJ] (2014) NOMS of-the-armed-forces-and-the-criminal-justice- content/uploads/sites/4/2014/09/Supplementary- Available from http://probationchiefs.org/wp- Commissioning Intentions. [online]. Available system.pdf [accessed 10/5/18]. veterans-data.pdf [accessed 17/5/18]. content/uploads/2014/02/An-exploration-of- from https://assets.publishing.service.gov. the-veteran-cohort-by-Andrea-MacDonald.pdf uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Robson, A., Cole, S., Doherty, R. (2019) Armed Johnson, T. & Murariu, G. (2016) Veterans [accessed 23/7/18]. attachment_data/file/280922/commissioning- Forces Charities in the Criminal Justice System in the UK: Issues facing the ex-service intentions-2014.pdf [online]. Available from https://www.fim-trust. community [online]. Available from https:// org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DSC-Armed- www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/-/media/Files/.../ Forces-Charities-in-the-Criminal-Justice-System. Foresight_report_9_veterans.pdf (accessed pdf [accessed 2/10/2019]. 9/5/18).

106 107 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Bibliography Appendix 1 List of Expert Steering Remember Veterans (2018) Induction Workbook SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity (2018) Check [online]. Available from http://www.remember- your eligibility [online]. Available from: https:// Group Members veterans.com/amical/uploads/2018/03/ www.ssafa.org.uk/help-you/check-your-eligibility inductionworkbookfinalprint16-02-2018.pdf [accessed 29/5/18]. Sutherland, L. & Wright, P. (2017) Supporting children and families affected by a family Organisation Role Individual Rosenberg, J. (2009) Children Need Dads Too: member’s offending – A Practitioner’s Guide. Children with Fathers in Prison. Quaker United Barnardo’s. Anglia Ruskin University, Research Fellow Linda Cooper Nations Office [online]. Available from http:// Veterans & Families Institute The Futures Company (2013) The Transition www.quno.org/sites/default/files/resources/ for Military Social Research ENGLISH_Children%20need%20dads%20too.pdf Mapping Study: Understanding the transition [accessed 13/7/18]. process for Service personnel returning to Team Manager West Midlands Prisons Debbie Bailey civilian life. FiMT [online]. Available from Royal British Legion (2018) Eligibility [online]. http://www.fim-trust.org/wp-content/ Invisible Lives and Children Affected Sarah Sardar Barnardo’s Available from: https://www.britishlegion.org. uploads/2015/01/20130810-TMS-Report.pdf by Service Separation, Project Worker uk/get-support/eligibility/ [accessed 9/5/18]. Service Manager – Invisible Lives Suzanne Page Short, R., Dickson, H. Greenberg, N., The Howard League for Penal Reform (2011) MacManus, D. (2018) Offending Behaviour, Report of the Inquiry into Former Armed Care After Combat Head of Research Nick Murdoch Mental Health and Welfare Needs of Veterans in Services Personnel in Prison [online]. Available Catch 22 SW Cluster Manager Alexandra Pace Liaison and Diversion Services. FiMT [online]. from https://howardleague.org/wp-content/ Available from http://www.fim-trust.org/wp- uploads/2016/05/Military-inquiry-final-report. Help for Heroes Head of Evaluation and Assurance Allie Bennington content/uploads/2018/05/20180525-FiMT- pdf [accessed 9/5/2018]. Report_FINAL.pdf [accessed 29/7/18]. HMP Stafford Previous Veterans Lead and Families Anna Cottam Thomas, M., Speyer, E., Davies, C. (2018) Smith, R; Grimshaw, R; Romeo, R; Knapp, Evaluation of the Barnardo’s Cymru Families Head of OMU Selena Bradley M (2007) Poverty and disadvantage among of Veterans Support Service. Barnardo’s Cymru prisoner’s families. Joseph Rowntree Policy and Research Unit (unpublished). HMP Stoke Heath Previous VICSO Richard Hadley Foundation, York. EDI Officer Neil Hursthouse

HMPPS Activities Hub Manager Ben Fisher

HMPPS Group Reducing Reoffending Lead – Guy Blackstone South Central

Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist Dr Deirdre Macmanus Kings College Centre for Co-Director of the King’s Centre for Nicola Fear Military Research Military Health Research

Senior Research Associate Marie Louise Sharp

Project Nova North of England Manager & Deputy Steve Lowe National Lead

Royal British Legion Research Manager Andy Simpson

Service Manager Barnardo’s Invisible Lives Suzanne Page

Sheffield Hallam University Senior Lecturer in Criminology Katherine Albertson

108 109 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Appendix 1 Appendix 2 List of Expert Steering Interview Schedule Group Members Interview questions: 6. Did you complete any operational tours? veterans in custody How recently? Organisation Role Individual 7. When and why did you leave the military? Personal details Head of Specialist Services Gary Williams 8. How long after leaving the military did you 1. Age start your custodial sentence? SSAFA Veterans in the Criminal Justice Yasmin Jankowski- 2. Ethnicity System Specialist Advisor Doyle 9. Were your children born while you were still serving in the military? 3. Marital status Veterans Contact Point / Executive Officer Len Hardy 10. If ‘yes’, did you live with your family in Remember Veterans 4. Disability military quarters and how long for? Superintendent & Representative of West Sean Russell 11. What do you miss if anything about the Midlands Combined Authority Details of sentence West Midlands Police Forces? Veterans Peer Support Network Johanna Comer 1. When did this current prison sentence start? 12. How did you feel when you left the military? Co-ordinator (month/year) 13. What did you do on leaving? York University Education and Development Lead Nick Wood 2. When is your expected release date? (month/ (Military Culture and Transition), year) 14. Were you and your family provided with Military Human Training any support on leaving the military? 3. Type of offence? If ‘yes’ who from? 4. Have you served a custodial sentence before? If yes – how many times, type of offences and for what lengths of time? Contact with family during sentence 1. Do you have regular contact with a partner? Family circumstances 2. How do you maintain this contact? 1. Age and number of children? 3. Do you have contact with your children? If ‘no or ‘occasionally’, what is the reason for this? 2. Did you live with your children prior to entering custody?

3. If ‘no’ did you have regular contact with your Your support needs children prior to entering custody? 1. When entering custody for this sentence did you disclose you were ex-military? Military experience 2. If ‘yes’ – at what point did you disclose and who did you inform? 1. So what age were you when you joined the military? 3. If ‘no’ – were you ever given the opportunity to let people know and/or what were 2. How would you describe your life before the the reasons you chose not to inform the military (including childhood)? prison staff?

3. Why did you join the military? 4. Do you know of any specialist support or 4. Which branch of HM Armed Forces did you programmes or information that is offered serve? What was your role? to ex-military in this establishment/in other establishments where you have served 5. How long did you serve in the military for? sentence?

110 111 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Appendix 2 Interview Schedule

18. When you are released and resettled, do • At point of arrest 5. Do you know of any specialist support or 13. During your current custodial sentence have you think you will have any of these support programmes or information that is offered you or your family had any of the following • During sentencing needs? to fathers in this establishment/in other support needs? • During custodial sentence establishments where you have served ¢ Housing ¢ Employment • When you are released sentence? ¢ Housing ¢ Employment ¢ Mental health ¢ Physical health 6. Is there anything that you thinks stops ex- ¢ Mental health ¢ Physical health 7. Do you think the children and families of military personnel getting support while in ¢ Disability ¢ Finances ex-military personnel in custody have any ¢ Disability ¢ Finances different needs to the families of other custody? ¢ Drugs or alcohol ¢ Family/relationship ¢ Drugs or alcohol ¢ Family/relationship prisoners? If ‘yes’ how are these needs misuse issues 7. Prior to entering custody did you have any of misuse issues different? ¢ Child contact ¢ Other the following support needs: ¢ Child contact ¢ Other arrangements (please specify) 8. Have your children and family received any arrangements (please specify) ¢ Housing ¢ Employment support from any agencies: ¢ Mental health ¢ Physical health 19. Are you aware of what support is available to 14. Have you received any support for any of 9. When you left the Forces? you upon your release? ¢ Disability ¢ Finances these needs? 10. When you entered custody? (details of ¢ Drugs or alcohol ¢ Family/relationship 15. Where have you received support from? support provided and by whom) misuse issues Support for your family ¢ Child contact ¢ Other 16. So how effective was the various support 1. Do you know of any specialist support or arrangements (please specify) you’ve talked about? Recommendations for developing programmes, information or benefits that are 17. While in prison have you ever received offered to children or families of ex-military improved support 8. Did you feel you had any support needs support from: personnel? 1. What support should be made available directly related to your military service or to ex-military personnel in prison? ¢ Combat Stress 2. Do you know of any specialist support, veteran status? (pre-sentencing, custody and release) ¢ Veterans Aid programmes, information or benefits that are 9. Did you receive any support with any of offered to children or families of prisoners? 2. Who should provide this support and how? these needs? ¢ The Royal British Legion ¢ The Army Benevolent fund 3. Is there anything that you think stops ex- 3. What would make it effective support? 10. Where did you receive support from? military personnel’s families getting support ¢ Veterans in Custody Support (VICS) 4. What support should be made available the 11. How effective was the support? while their family member is in custody? ¢ Veterans in Prison families of ex-military personnel in prison? 4. Have you accessed any support or (pre-sentencing, custody and release) 12. Before entering prison did you ever receive ¢ The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families intervention during your time in custody that support from: Association (SSAFA) has supported your family relationships? 5. Who should provide this support and how? ¢ Combat Stress ¢ The NHS 6. What would make it effective support? ¢ Veterans Aid ¢ Help for Heroes ¢ Mediation ¢ Counselling ¢ The Royal British Legion ¢ Any other group who work with ex-military ¢ Parenting ¢ 1:1 support from programme family worker Final questions ¢ The Army Benevolent fund personnel? ¢ Family visits ¢ Other ¢ Veterans in Custody Support (VICS) 1. This interview is being undertaken for the Barnardo’s in order to better understand ¢ Veterans in Prison 5. When you left the Forces, how did this impact the experiences of ex-military personnel in ¢ The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families on your children and family? (positive and custody and their families – is there anything Association (SSAFA) negative) you want to add? ¢ The NHS 6. How do you think your involvement in the 2. Is there anything I should have asked? ¢ Help for Heroes criminal justice system has impacted on your 3. How did the interview feel for you? ¢ Any other group who work with ex-military children and family? personnel?

112 113 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Appendix 2 Interview Schedule

Interview questions: partner 2. Has your partner had contact with your 4. Have you received any financial assistance Military experience children? from the Assisted Prison Visit Unit? (if not – did you know that it existed?) Personal details 1. When and why did you partner/co-parent join ¢ Yes frequently ¢ Yes occasionally ¢ No the military? 5. When your partner left the Forces, how 1. Age ¢ Telephone (frequency) 2. In which armed forces did he serve? What was did this impact on you and your children? 2. Ethnicity his role? ¢ Social visits (frequency) (positive and negative) How did you feel? ¢ Letters (frequency) (Prompts: finance, health, childcare, children, 3. Gender 3. Did he see active service? parenting, employment, housing, emotional ¢ Emails (frequency) 4. Marital status ¢ Yes ¢ No wellbeing, relationships, time management) ¢ Family visits (frequency) 5. Disability How recently? 6. How has your partner’s involvement in the 3. If ‘no or ‘occasionally’, what is the reason criminal justice system impacted on you and 4. How long did he serve in the military for? for this? your children? How did you feel? Details of partner’s sentence 5. How would you describe your life when your (Prompts: finance, health, childcare, children, partner was in the military? 1. When was your husband/partner’s last prison If partner has been released parenting, employment, housing, emotional wellbeing, relationships, time management) sentence? Current / date(month/year)……. 6. When and why did he leave the military? 1. Has your partner returned to the family ¢ At point of arrest 2. How long was he sentenced to? 7. How long after leaving the military did he home? ¢ During sentencing 3. What type of offence was he sentenced for? begin his last custodial sentence? ¢ Yes ¢ No ¢ During custodial sentence 4. Had he served a custodial sentence before 8. Were your children born while he was still 2. If no, does your partner have contact with the that instance? If yes – how many times, types serving in the military?If ‘yes’, did you live children and if so how regularly? ¢ When you are released in military quarters and how long for? of offences and for what lengths of time? 7. Have you and your children received any 9. What did he do on leaving? Support for you & your children support from any agencies: Family circumstances 10. How would describe your life since your 1. Do you know of any specialist support or a) When your partner left the Forces? (details of support provided and by whom 1. Age and number of children? partner left the military? programmes, information or benefits that are offered to children or families of ex-military and how you accessed support) 11. Were your family provided with any support 2. Did your partner live with you and your personnel? b) When your partner entered custody? on his transitioning to civilian life? If ‘yes’ children prior to entering custody? (details of support provided and by whom who from? 2. Do you know of any specialist support, and how you accessed support) ¢ Yes ¢ No programmes, information or benefits that are offered to children or families of prisoners? c) When your partner was released? If ‘no’ did he have regular contact with your Contact with partner during sentence (details of support provided and by whom children prior to entering custody? Yes/No 3. Have you or your children been offered and how you accessed support) 1. Have you had regular contact with your or have you accessed any support or Detail: partner? If yes, how have you maintained intervention during your partner’s time 8. Do children and families of ex-military this contact? in custody that supported your family personnel in custody have any different ¢ Telephone (frequency) relationships? needs to the families of other prisoners? If ‘yes’ how are these needs different? ¢ Social visits (frequency) ¢ Mediation ¢ Counselling ¢ Letters (frequency) 9. Is there anything that you think stops ¢ Parenting ¢ 1:1 support from ex-military personnel’s families getting programme family worker ¢ Emails (frequency) support while their family member is ¢ Family visits ¢ Other in custody?

114 115 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Appendix 2 Before custody During sentence After custody Interview Schedule Combat Stress Veterans Aid

The Royal British Legion Veteran’s support needs 1. When your partner entered prison, did he 4. Is there anything that you think stops The Army Benevolent fund disclose he was ex-military? ex-military personnel getting support while in prison? Veterans in Custody 2. Do you know if your partner was offered Support (VICS) and/or received any specialist support, 5. Has your partner had any of the following programmes or information that was support needs before, during or after Veterans in Prison specifically for ex-military personnel serving his sentence in prison? in prison? • Did he receive any support with any of The Soldiers, Sailors, 3. Do you know if your partner was offered these needs? Airmen and Families and/or received any specialist support, • Where did he receive support from? Association (SSAFA) programmes or information that was • How effective was the support? specifically for fathers in prison? The NHS

Help for Heroes Before custody During sentence After custody Any other group who work Housing with ex-military personnel?

Employment

Mental health Recommendations for developing Final questions improved support Physical health 1. This interview is being undertaken for the 1. What support should be made available Barnardo’s in order to better understand Drugs or alcohol misuse to ex-military personnel in prison? the experiences of ex-military personnel in (pre-sentencing, custody and release) custody and their families – is there anything you want to add? Finances 2. Who should provide this support and how? 2. Is there anything I should have asked? Disability 3. What would make it effective support? 3. How did the interview feel for you? Family/relationship issues 4. What support should be made available the families of ex-military personnel in prison? (pre-sentencing, custody and release) Child contact arrangements 5. Who should provide this support and how? Other (please specify) 6. What would make it effective support?

1. Did you feel he had support needs 2. Has your partner ever received support from directly related to his military service the following agencies? or veteran status? • What support did they provide you/your partner? • How effective was the support?

116 117 A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children A Needs Assessment of Veterans in Custody, their Families & Children

Appendix 3 Children’s Interview Tools

Children’s Interview/Activity Schedule (younger children) Children’s Interiew Tool: (Dudley the Dog) Tell us a bit about you: Tool taken from: Barnardo’s ‘Supporting children and families affected by a family member’s offending – A Practitioner’s Guide’ by Lindsay Sutherland and Polly Home Wright, February 2017 Other Other members important Dudley the dog can help young children to talk of family at home? people in about their thoughts and feelings. Pets? your family All you will need is flipchart paper and pens.

Simply follow these 5 easy steps...

1. Introduce the child to Dudley the dog.

2. Ask them to draw Dudley nice and big in the You centre of the flip chart paper. Age? Boy/girl? Other important things about you? Favourite colour? 3. Explain that Dudley’s family member has gone to prison. Explain to child they can take picture away afterwards (take a photograph of picture to store as data) 4. Ask the child to write down inside Dudley any feelings they think he may be experiencing.

Activity exploring experience of having a parent – Heart: how is the character feeling? What 5. Ask the child to write any questions Dudley in prison: sorts of feelings do they have in their body? may have in the space around Dudley. What are the good feelings? What are the This is a great way to get young children to talk • Very young children: Dudley the Dog exercise bad feelings? Why are they feeling like about what’s going on. By using Dudley the (see below) this? (have some emojis/facial expressions child will feel like ‘I’ is less intrusive and you are re emotions for children to choose from if • Slightly older children: Creating a character more likely to get positive engagement. needed) – Draw outline of a character on flip chart – Eyes: what can the character see going on Now that you have opened up the subject of – Ask child to give character name, age around them? Has anything changed since imprisonment you can ask the child if they and hobby. their Dad went to prison? Does anything can relate to any of these feelings and explore – Explain that the character’s Dad has just look different? any questions they may have. It’s a great place gone away to prison – Smile: what makes the character smile/ to start. – Attach/draw on images to character to feel happy? What could help to make the prompt questions: character feel happy if their thoughts and – Brain/thought bubbles: What is the feelings are not feeling very good? character thinking about? What questions – Hand: who might the character want to hold might they have? What is going on inside their hand to help them understand what is their head? going on or to make them feel safe? – Rubbish bin standing next to character: Imagine the character could just chuck away the bits of their life that they are not enjoying – what might they chuck away?

118 119 Barnardo’s believes in stronger families, safer childhoods and positive futures for vulnerable children and young people.

If you need further information or other fundraising activities and events – please visit our website: www.barnardos.org.uk/get-involved

Barnardo House Tanners Lane, Barkingside Ilford, Essex IG6 1QG barnardos.org.uk Tel: 0208 498 7091 Email: [email protected]

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605 21129shc20