There is an overrepresentation of Roma and Travellers in prison populations in Europe, though exact numbers are difficult to establish, as some countries in Europe do not provide prison population statistics by “ethnicity” and “race”.
There is a general lack of understanding and studies on the situation of Roma and Traveller prisoners across European countries, with the exception of Ireland, the UK and Finland. As a result of this lack of information, there is little known of the challenges faced by Roma prisoners and their children/families.
This 2017 publication, based on a report by Rachel Brett and information gathered from members of the COPE network, aims to bring together statistics, good practice and recommendations to provide a guidance tool for further investigation with respect to addressing the specific challenges and problems experienced by Roma and Travellers in prison and in maintaining quality contact with their children.
Find the guide here: Children of Roma and Traveller Prisoners: A Short Guide