Prison Nurseries
Washington, Ohio, California, New York, Nebraska, and West Virginia all have prison Nurseries. A prison nursery is a section of prison that houses incarcerated mothers and their babies. To participate in one of these programs mothers must have never been convicted of a violent crime and must have a sentence of 18 months or less.
Prison Nurseries do not look scary like the prison you and I imagine. They are actually decorated like a real nursery with rocking chairs, changing tables, toys, cribs, etc. Each Nursery has a staff including a pediatrician, a nurse, and nannies to help mother’s while attending classes. All mothers and nannies must attend parenting classes during, and after their sentence. Other inmates serve as nannies and they also may not have ever committed any violent offences and must complete proper training prior to becoming a nanny.
Mothers take courses on how to properly care for their children including, child development, parenting skills, shaken baby syndrome, and many other important courses they may not otherwise have the opportunity to take. Not to mention counseling for drugs, alcohol, or any other problems they may be dealing with. Mothers also must be in good mental and physical health.
People have argued that keeping a baby in prison is harmful to the baby, and that for no reason should a baby be kept in prison. They say mothers in prison regardless of their offence do not deserve to have their babies with them.
Studies have shown that children are not harmed from this. They actually benifit from being with their mothers during this critical bonding period and so do the mothers. In all six prisons these programs have had a great success rate and seen a very low rate of reoffenders. This is very encouraging to other states that are now considering opening nursery programs in their prison systems as well.
A 1987 United Nations survey of 70 Nations found that only four– The United States, Suriname, Liberia, and the Bahama’s– routinely seperate infants from their mothers while incarcerated.
I feel that there is nothing stronger than the bond between a mother and her child. And isn’t the goal to keep these women out of prison and teach them the tools to be good mothers? To stop the cycle? These women who may not have had a good upbringing and made a few bad choices along the way, are definitely not going to benefit by having their child taken from them. I think being able to bond in a safe, drug and alcohol free enviroment with people constantly watching over them and supporting them is the best thing for mother and baby.
Feel free to share your opinions. I would love to hear what you all feel about this.
Posted: May 22nd, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 11
Comments
Comment from Momma On The Go
Time: May 23, 2008, 4:16 am
I’ve never actually heard of these. If a mother has not committed a violent crime I don’t see the harm in keeping her with her child. It is not an ideal situation but I’m sure it is better than seperating the two, sending the baby to foster care and reuniting mom and baby after her incarceration is over. At least this way the two are able to form a bond and mom is taught how to properly care for her little one.
Comment from Dana
Time: May 23, 2008, 1:37 pm
I haven’t heard of this either! I think it is great for a mother and child to bond – but if they have commited a violent crime why allow them to keep their child. I know that it’s still prison – but why give them any benefits.. BR/BR/I do think it’s smart to educate them on how to be good parents!
Comment from christy
Time: May 23, 2008, 7:03 pm
I have never heard of this before. Personally, I think it is wonderful. Babies need their mamas.
Comment from Andrea
Time: May 23, 2008, 8:55 pm
I’ve never heard of these before either…but I think it is a good idea – especially since the mother is being watched/monitored, etc. so that she won’t do anything harmful to their child. I do think that a child needs to be with his/her mother though, and I think this would be a much better situation than the offending mother being at home with the baby where she could cause harm to come to the baby, or else putting the mother in prison and having the baby be shipped from one foster home to another.
Comment from Damselfly
Time: May 24, 2008, 1:54 pm
Sounds like a great program. Part of my problem with prisons in general is that there’s no rehab for making prisoners a better person. These nurseries sound like they do that, though. Besides, if you are in prison and you have your child there with you, doesn’t that give you all the incentive in the world to clean up your act and get out of there so your child will have a better life?
Comment from Amber
Time: May 27, 2008, 5:15 am
It turns my stomach to think of my little angel having to live part of her life in prison…even if it is a nice part of the prison…BR/BR/I understand wanting to keep the babies with their mamas…but I keep seeing my DD’s face
Comment from Adventures In Babywearing
Time: May 27, 2008, 3:34 pm
Oh my goodness- I never have even thought about this or known just what happens! I think the best thing for the mother and child would be to stay together. Especially if they have an environment there to help them learn to be good mothers.BR/BR/Steph
Comment from Marmarbug
Time: May 30, 2008, 10:33 am
I never knew this! Learn something new everyday. I think it is a good idea when used in the right context. BR/That being said, good blog!
Comment from Melanie
Time: May 30, 2008, 12:54 pm
I think if the sentence is 18 months or less and the mother didn’t do anything violent then it makes sense for her to have her baby with her. And the best part is that she is learning the best ways to care for her child so that when she gets out she can provide a better life for her baby.BR/BR/A HREF=”http://www.livinwithme.com/” REL=”nofollow”Livin’ With Me/A
Comment from Cheryl Hanna-Truscott
Time: March 6, 2009, 4:30 pm
I have been a volunteer at Washington State’s prison nursery since 2003. The program benefits both mother and baby although there are few academic studies yet to confirm this common sense idea. One way to regard the program is that the mothers are in a safe, supportive, and enriched environment to form a healthy attachment to their infant. Babies have a biologically critical developmental period where healthy attachment is laid down for life. Babies should not have to pay for their mothers’ crimes. Some mothers inevitably fail on release but others surpass expectations. I think we need stronger programs for released prisoners that will ensure decreased recidivism.
Comment from maria
Time: April 13, 2009, 7:35 pm
I am a mother who has had her child in prison, i gave birth to my son while in prison he was born in a regular hospital he lived in prison with me for 16 months the day he turned 16 months we went home we have a great bond it is now 2 years later and we are doing great he is just as out going and smart as a child born out of prison i also would like to say that it is very hard to take care of a child in prison you still have to do all of the things inmates are required to do as well as take care of your babie it is truly a tasic and if you can get through that with a new born baby you can get through any thing i am very greatful for my opportunity it changed my life a great deal and that is an experience i will never forget
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