U okviru obitelji ostvaruju se funkcije i zadaće ključne za članove obitelji, ali i društvo u cjelini. U obiteljima žive i djeca, kao najranjivija skupina posebno zaštićena međunarodnim i nacionalnim propisima. Izricanje kazne zatvora članu obitelji stavlja obitelj u novu situaciju potencijalnih izazova, specifičnih za svaku obitelj. Zatvaranje u određenoj mjeri ima učinke i na zatvorenika i na njegovu obitelj, pri čemu ti učinci mogu biti manje ili više izraženi, pozitivni i negativni. U inozemnoj se literaturi sve češće naglašavaju upravo učinci zatvaranja, koji ne pogađaju samo zatvorenika, i njihova nedovoljna osviještenost i istraženost. Svrha je rada pregledom literature istražiti može li, i na koje načine, izvršavanje kazne zatvora prema članu obitelji predstavljati stresni odnosno krizni događaj za obitelj te postoji li potreba pravodobne i adekvatne intervencije društva. U tom se smjeru istražuju mogući negativni učinci zatvaranja člana obitelji na obitelj, izazovi i koristi očuvanja obiteljskih veza tijekom izvršavanja kazne zatvora, kao i izazovi obiteljske prilagodbe povezani s povratkom zatvorenika u obitelj. U okviru zaključnih razmatranja, temeljem rezultata pregleda literature, komentira se značaj i potreba intervencije društva, odnosno specifičnih oblika rada s obitelji zatvorenika, uz preporuke za hrvatski kontekst.; A family implies a number of different functions and tasks, crucial both for family members and the society as a whole. Its members include children as the most vulnerable group that enjoys special safeguards enshrined in international and national regulations. Imposition of a prison sentence on a family member puts family in a new situation of potential challenges specific to each family. To a certain extent, imprisonment affects both the prisoner and his family members. These effects may be pronounced to a different degree and can be positive or negative. Increasingly, international literature speaks of the effects of imprisonment that affect other people apart from the prisoner and the lack of awareness and studies about this topic. The purpose of this paper is to examine the existing literature in order to analyse whether and in which ways the execution of a prison sentence of a family member presents a stressful event or plight for families and whether there is a need for a timely and adequate intervention by the society. In that sense, the paper explores potential negative effects of imprisonment of a family member on family and family roles, challenges and benefits of preserving family ties during the execution of a prison sentence, as well as challenges of family adjustments associated with the return of prisoners to their families. Based on the conducted analyzes, the concluding remarks emphasize the importance and need for specific forms of work with prisoners’ families, with recommendations applicable for Croatia.