More than 125,000 children in the UK alone are 'sentenced' to separation from their imprisoned parents, mainly fathers. Gwyneth Boswell and Peter Wedge draw on extensive research and experience to examine the effect this kind of separation can have on the emotional development of a child and on family relationships.

They make suggestions for work with prisoners and families in the light of current policy and practice and consider how best to support:

* children coming to terms with conflicting emotions arising from fathers' imprisonment

* fathers who may be teenagers themselves

* mothers or carers coping with absent partners

* prison staff trying to incorporate the family as a factor in rehabilitation.

Examining the rights and needs of imprisoned fathers and their children and using case examples to demonstrate effective ways of maintaining contact and communication, this is an indispensable resource for all those working with the families of fathers in prison.