More than an estimated 7,000 North Wales schoolchildren have a parent in prison, according to new figures.
The disturbing data released by Wrexham Council also showed 65% of boys with a convicted father across the region are likely to offend themselves.
Figures emerged as council chiefs begin to head up a scheme to break the cycle of intergenerational offending in families.
The bid will be launched in tandem with the opening of Wrexham's new super prison which will help run the initiative.
On Tuesday Wrexham councillors will be asked to approve contributing £9,423 per year towards the scheme at an executive board meeting.
Wrexham council’s lead member for people, communities and partnerships, Hugh Jones, said the move “had the possibility to change people’s lives”.
He said: “Informal estimates suggest that approximately 7,112 children of school age in North Wales could be affected by a parent in prison.
“The impact on children of having a parent in prison are generally negative and their outcomes tend to be worse than those of their peers; these are even more acute when the mother is in prison.
“Children with a parent in prison are twice as likely as other children to experience conduct and mental health problems and three times more likely to be involved in offending activity themselves, with 65% of boys with a convicted father going on to offend.
“They also cost the public purse 10 times more by the age of 28”.
Cllr Jones said work across the UK, particularly in South Wales, to connect prisoners with their children, has proved to reduce re-offending and helps youngsters deal with the consequences of a family member being in jail.
He said: “Families are often the forgotten parts of the regional justice system.
“With HMP Berwyn becoming operational in February 2017, Wrexham council is keen to build on the opportunity of helping to set up a service to support children and families from North Wales affected by the imprisonment of a family member.”
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