In Argentina, incarcerated mothers are allowed to keep their young
children with them for the first two to four years. In the U.S., despite
soaring increases in the number of women behind bars, only 9 states
have recognize the importance of the mother-baby bond and have or are
developing prison nursery programs.
The Women’s Prison
Association conducted a study of prison nursery programs and mother-baby
community corrections programs, finding:
Many women parenting
their infants in prison nurseries could be doing so in the community
instead, the report finds. The profile of women in prison nurseries is
nearly identical to that of participants in community-based programs.
Women in both types of programs are serving relatively short sentences
for non-violent offenses, and will continue primary caretaking
responsibility for their child(ren) upon release. Further, most women
in prison nursery programs present little risk to public safety.
Read the full report (as a pdf) here
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