Experiences of Families and Prisoners
Some prisoners will return home on an early release schemes such as Home Detention Curfew (HDC) or as part of their reintegration back into the community on Extended Home Leave (EHL).
For families and prisoners alike, this can be a time of mixed emotions. There is the anticipation and excitement of someone coming home after being in prison but that is coupled with the natural anxieties of how it’s going to play out.
From Families Outside
Here are some comments from families who have had a family member home on Extended Home Leave:
‘Our household is complete when my husband is home. The hard part is when he leaves….’
‘We love him coming home, but hate the thought of him going back. It was so hard and so expensive for us to visit him, so home visits are really appreciated.
Or
‘We could have done with a bit extra money that week – it was hard to make ends meet.’
‘We found it really difficult having her at home on a curfew (HDC). We weren’t used to spending so much time together and because she couldn’t get out, she was inviting everyone into our house.
Just a few comments which demonstrate the conflicting emotions surrounding a family member returning to the household.