PRISONER families are being supported by a ground-breaking scheme on Teesside which could be rolled out across the North-East to help other forgotten victims of crime.

In its first year 422 friends and relatives of defendants facing a custodial sentence have been helped by the Nepacs charity court project.

From just giving information to sitting with an anxious partner or parent throughout a lengthy trial, the scheme is bridging a gap said Claire Moore, Nepacs court project development officer.

She has trained a team of 12 volunteers based at Teesside Crown Court and Teesside Magistrates’ Court, in Middlesbrough who work closely with prison visitor centres and family support workers.

“There's a public perception that all families who go to court know the system but there are a lot of first time users,” she said.

Every year thousands of families experience court proceeding and the impact of a custodial sentence, despite never having been involved in, or committed, a crime,” she said.

“There is a lot of stigma. Some people have had their whole communities put them in isolation because they've stood by their partner. They are treated like they are the ones who have done something wrong. The family is tarnished.”

The project also runs a telephone befriending service which is offering long-term support to 93 people so far. Calls peak on Fridays and Mondays, sentencing days, when distressed family members call for information about what will happen next.

" They ask questions like what money and property can their loved one have in prison, when can they visit and how will they get there. Sometimes a prison sentence can have massive repercussions and can lead to the loss of a home. Other people are desperate, can't sleep or eat.”

They also support mothers behind bars as well as relatives of elderly defendants charged with historic sex crimes.

“These families might have to come to terms with their loved one never coming out of prison,” she added.

Miss Moore said more volunteers were needed to run the initiative which could be introduced at courts in Durham and Newcastle. Recently, it was accredited with the Approved Provider Standard, the national quality benchmark designed specifically for mentoring and befriending programmes.

“The service helps maintain family ties. A prisoner without family support is much more likely to reoffend and the children of prisoners cope better if they have contact.

“She added: “I am so grateful that at that really difficult time in their lives that friends and family trust us. I am so passionate about this project because I don’t think families should have to go through this on their own.”

Anyone interested in becoming a Nepacs court volunteer can email cmoore@nepacs.co.uk and the befriending team can be contacted on 0777-4385276.