When a child is murdered the incident garners enormous press coverage and ripples of sympathy flow across the country. But the death of a child in custody has a different effect. Rarely, if ever, do the public flock to the prison gates to lay flowers or pay their respects.

Instead, the bereaved families are left to grieve for their children alone without the nation's sympathy, and many face a battle to discover how their child died while in the alleged care of the state.

According to the Youth Justice Board, which is responsible for under-18s in prison, it is correct procedure to visit the next of kin as soon as possible, "in the middle of the night if necessary", says a spokesperson. "Under no circumstances should the family be told on the telephone."

But that is exactly how Pauline Campbell heard her 18-year-old daughter, Sarah, had died after ingesting a quantity of prescription drugs at Styal prison and young offender institution (YOI) in January 2003 (see below). On the day in question Campbell had not even been informed when Sarah, unconscious, was driven to hospital.

When Campbell returned from an evening out, unaware anything was wrong, she was greeted by answerphone messages and when she eventually spoke to the police over the phone, they informed her Sarah had died four hours earlier.

Yvonne Scholes, whose son, Joseph, died at Stoke Heath YOI, was not told until nearly four hours after his death (see panel, left). "The Home Office press office was informed several hours before me," she says.

Howard League for Penal Reform director Frances Crook says it is "outrageous" that anyone is told about their child's death over the phone. Parents should always be told face-to-face by the police.

But she believes support for families has improved dramatically over the past five years. Families are given the opportunity to meet staff, see where their loved ones were held and funeral expenses should be covered, she says.

But Helen Shaw, co-director of campaign group Inquest, believes there is little support for these families. Although the charity provides legal and practical advice, it cannot provide therapeutic support for families and it is concerned by the lack of emotional support available. Indeed, Campbell had to complain repeatedly and even go as far as contacting her local MP before she was offered anything more than six sessions with a bereavement counsellor.

Investigations and inquests into their children's deaths are another cause of pain, frustration and anger for parents. Investigations are often lengthy, complicated and distressing for the families. When police returned the clothes that Campbell's daughter had worn when she died, they failed to warn her they were bloodstained. She was left wondering whether the bleeding occurred at the prison, or at hospital when they were trying to save her daughter.

Since April, prisons and probation ombudsman Stephen Shaw has been responsible for reviewing deaths in prisons. He was commissioned to investigate the death of 39-year-old Julie Walsh after she became the sixth woman to die in Styal in the year up to August 2003. As well as Sarah Campbell, the list also included 20-year-old Nissa Smith.

Although Shaw was tasked with examining whether there were any similarities among the deaths, Campbell says this was ineffective because he was not able to investigate the other five deaths. She also raises concerns that a ministerial statement of Shaw's findings was released rather than the actual report.

And there are already concerns that Shaw's team is struggling under the burden of investigations and that, consequently, reports have not been published. The Howard League wants the prison inspectorate to take on this responsibility instead.

The wait for an inquest is even longer. The whole experience can cause family breakdown, job loss and physical and mental illness as families' grieving is put on hold. Peter Blanksby's daughter, Petra, died aged 19 last November while on remand in New Hall prison (see panel, right). He is still waiting until after the inquest to bury Petra's ashes, although he now knows this will not be until next year. In the meantime, he is "walking round in denial, with a sad, empty feeling".

Inquest, Scholes and rehabilitation agency Nacro are calling for a public inquiry into the deaths of children in the youth justice system as so many of the issues cannot be addressed by an inquest. Scholes particularly wants an inquiry to focus on the number of children in prison, sentencing policy, compliance with the Children Act 1989, resources and mental health issues.

It is hoped the latter would investigate why so many young people with mental health problems are inappropriately incarcerated. Blanksby says New Hall prison officers told him they were fed up being used as a dumping ground for young offenders with mental health issues.

"There should not be so many young people sent to prison," adds Shaw. "There should be improvements in the way families are supported, but the main issue is looking at alternatives to custody."

On top of everything that families have to deal with, they often face media prejudice. Just six days after Sarah Campbell's death, the local paper incorrectly referred to her as an alcoholic. After the death of 14-year-old Adam Rickwood earlier this year, a tabloid newspaper published an "awful" article about the child's family, says Scholes. "Somehow it's as if our grief isn't as profound. We are solely judged on the fact that our child went to prison."

As Inquest's Helen Shaw points out: "You would not get the same scrutiny of the family of a murder victim." 

- Community Care's Back on Track campaign is seeking to apply pressure on politicians and the courts to reduce the number of children and young people being held in custody. See the campaign website at www.communitycare.co.uk/backontrack

Bearers of bad news 

The Prison Service, which is responsible for offenders aged 18-20, says when a young person dies in prison the next of kin is notified as soon as possible after the death. Unless it is difficult for logistical reasons, the prison's governor, deputy governor or chaplain inform next of kin face to face. 

For juveniles, the appropriate youth offending team and the Youth Justice Board are also informed and social services are notified if the child was in care. A spokesperson for the YJB, which represents under-18s, says the Prison Service may appoint someone from the prison or police to tell the family and this person would become the family liaison officer from the death until the inquest's conclusion. 

At secure training centres, the director appoints the family liaison officer and the director would also make contact. In local authority secure children's homes, the home, local authority and social services determine who will tell the family.   

Yvonne Scholes' story

Joseph Scholes, who was abused, self-harming and suicidal, died at Stoke Heath YOI just nine days into his two-year sentence.  

"I was contacted between three and four hours after my son died although the Home Office press office knew before me," says his mother, Yvonne.  

"A police officer came to my house and asked me if I was alone. I don't think he even told me Joseph had died, I just screamed 'He's dead, he's dead', ran inside, threw myself on the floor and kept having to run to the bathroom to vomit, I was so utterly shocked. 

"The police officer was kind but the prison governor was offhand. I was screaming because I found it inconceivable that Joseph had died while on the health care wing. Next day, the prison offered to send a chaplain, but we declined.  

"After that, we were given Inquest's number then left alone and had no further support from the prison or social services and little help from the police. I had difficulty walking, let alone driving, and had a disabled child to care for. Prison staff are offered support in these circumstances, but families are totally disregarded. 

"I have no closure after Joseph's inquest as it posed more questions than it answered. It destroyed a part of me."   

Kirsty Blanksby's story

Petra Blanksby, who had a history of abuse, prolific self-harm and suicide attempts, died at New Hall prison. She was on remand for arson after she tried to kill herself by setting her bedroom alight. She self-harmed 92 times in prison. 

Her sister, Kirsty, says: "I had been out of hospital for a day after taking an overdose when the police contacted me to say my twin sister was in hospital. I went to see her immediately and prison officers, the governor, doctors and nurses were there. Petra was having fits and they said the outlook was bleak. Five days later we watched her die. 

"I was absolutely devastated. We knew everything about each other, we were both bullied and abused in care and, when you've been through that, it's hard to live on.  

"Everyone was really supportive. Prison staff were really good and invited us to a memorial service at the prison. The staff at the hospital couldn't have done more for us, although not every hospital Petra contacted was as good as that.  

"The NHS as a whole let her down. They didn't want to deal with her so she ended up in prison. The system does nothing for self-harmers. I feel social services failed her and the courts failed her as they should not send people with mental health problems to prison. 

"There needs to be more support for families. I know my dad was very frustrated. As I was next of kin, he didn't know anything had happened until I told him. But my problem is not with the staff, it's with the system."   

Pauline Campbell's story 

Sarah Campbell died in January 2003 after she had been in Styal Prison and YOI just one day.  #

Her mother, Pauline, says: "The police told me on the phone that Sarah was dead without asking if I had anyone with me. I received a letter from the prison service a few days later but they didn't contact me on the phone at all. I had to identify the body on my birthday. I was told originally that an inquest would be held in six months, but it is likely to be two years later. 

"I had no savings and had to borrow the £2,000 funeral costs from a friend which was embarrassing and distressing. Seven months later, the governor of Styal offered to reimburse me but I said I would only accept the money if the Home Office introduced a policy to offer to pay funeral costs following deaths in custody - it is the least they can do. 

"I am not satisfied that the police investigation was conducted with sufficient vigour. And the Prison Service report into Sarah's death was apparently ready in April 2003 but not released to the coroner until January 2004.  

"I met ombudsman Stephen Shaw last September and as a grieving mother was told the delay was 'due to a quality control issue with the commissioning agent'.  "Of the six deaths in Styal prison in the year to August 2003 there has only been one inquest, which completely exacerbates my distress. 

"I have no other children, I am divorced, have no partner and my parents are dead. Campaigning is my way of keeping going. It has been a constant fight.  

"The loss of my only child has been a harrowing experience and I have been profoundly distressed at the appalling treatment I have received since she died."

Violet Brayson's story    

"I had eight kids all together. Now I'm down to five." Violet Brayson lost a baby daughter to leukaemia but it's the deaths of two of her other children - and an incident in a young offender institution that left her eldest son in a persistent vegetative state - which still haunt her, writes Janet Snell.  

The Braysons' lives changed for ever 10 years ago when eldest son Robert, then 18, was taken into custody for suspected car theft. He was held at Brinsford YOI, Wolverhampton, which topped the league table for the number of assaults on inmates. 

Three days later Violet was told that her son was in hospital having emergency surgery.  

"They told me it was an alleged hanging but I don't believe that," she says. "He loved life, he loved his baby boy, he was mad about cars. There's just no way he would try to kill himself. He must have been attacked." 

The Braysons put all their energy into fighting for justice for Robert. "I suppose his little brother, Aaron, listened to us going over the case again and again. Then one day, when he was 12, I sent him upstairs for being naughty and when I went up he had hanged himself." 

Eight months later, 19-year-old Anne-Marie Brayson, who had just given birth to her second son, Daniel, was accused of stealing £50 and remanded at Brockhill YOI near Redditch awaiting a bail hostel place. 

Her mother says: "She rang and said she was being bullied. Then on 31 August 2001 she was found hanging in her cell." 

Violet and her husband believe the family can't start to rebuild their lives until they have inquiries to establish the full facts surrounding the death of their daughter and the devastating injuries sustained by their son. "The authorities have taken my children. I want some answers on what they did to them."