Why Stories From Prison Matter For Children And Us All

By Stacey Shortall

Prisons are places most of us never enter. But their shadows stretch into homes, schools, and communities across New Zealand. Every time a parent is imprisoned, a child is left behind.

Right now, 66% of women in prison are mothers. On average, each has nearly three children. That means hundreds of Kiwi kids are growing up without their mum at home.

The impact is brutal. Children of prisoners are more likely to struggle at school, face mental health issues, and end up in the justice system themselves. The cycle continues.

That’s why the Who Did You Help Today charitable trust created the Storybook Programme.

It’s simple. But it’s powerful. Mothers record stories for their children. Those stories and books are sent to children to hear at home. The result? A bridge across the concrete and wire of prison walls.

One mum told me: “Reading a story out loud for daughter to hear reminded me I’m still her mum. It gave me hope”. One caregiver said: “When she misses her mum, I play the story again.”

These are not small moments. They are lifelines. They reassure children that they are loved. They give mothers hope and motivation to change. And they help try to break the intergenerational cycle of offending.

Some say prison is for punishment, not parenting. But here’s the truth: nearly every woman in prison will one day come home. Do we want them returning broken and disconnected? Or returning with stronger bonds to their children, and a reason to build a better future?

Consider how around 75% of women in prison have been victims of family violence. More than half have been sexually assaulted. At least 60% have literacy and numeracy skills below NCEA Level 1. The majority live with untreated trauma, addiction, or mental health conditions. For many women, prison is not the start of their story. It is where years of hurt, pain and hopelessness finally end up.

The Storybook Programme doesn’t excuse crime. It doesn’t erase accountability. What it does is make rehabilitation real. It helps children stay connected to love. It helps mothers focus on change. And it reduces the long-term social and financial costs of re-offending. It costs taxpayers around $200,00 per year per prisoner. So every avoided re-imprisonment significantly saves taxpayers.

This isn’t about being soft on crime. It’s being smart on crime. And, at its core, this is about something we can all understand: the power of a story told by someone we love.