The home front - The families of politically motivated prisoners in Northern Ireland

This article is based upon a survey of partners of politically motivated pr isoners(1) in Northern Ireland, It examines issues related to the visiting experience, the maintenance of contact through letters, home leave and rele ase, and the provision of support from extended family, civil society and p rofessional agencies. The authors argue that while the political ideology o f prisoners and families is important, it does not insulate them from the p ractical and emotional difficulties of coping with imprisonment. It is also argued that despite a system of relatively well resourced support offered to prisoners' families in Northern Ireland, the failure of the families of politicals to avail themselves of these services offers important lessons f or the process of prisoner release and reintegration as part of the Norther n Ireland peace process.