Justice, it is said, is about acquitting the innocent and punishing the guilty. Why then, asks Roger Shaw, are the children of imprisoned parents often penalised the most? The abuse, stigma and neglect experienced by many of these children raise serious questions about the nature of criminal justice. Originally published in 1992, Prisoners' Children provides the first in-depth look at these hidden victims of crime and examines ways in which the harm can be reduced.

The contributors – a wide range of leading practitioners and academics in the field – address such diverse issues as the psychological impact of parental incarceration on children, the added problem of racism facing black children and their families, and the particular needs of mothers and babies in prison.

Prisoners' Children is a major resource for anyone who needs to know what can be done to confront these and other issues within prisons, the probation service, and schools.