Prison nursery
Encyclopedia
A prison nursery is a section of a prison that houses incarcerated mothers and their child. Prison nurseries are not common in correctional facilities in the United States, although prior to the 1950s many states had them and they are widespread throughout the rest of world.
, Nebraska
, California
, Washington, Ohio
, and Indiana
.
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women
, a maximum security women’s prison in New York, was the only prison nursery that remained open throughout the 20th century. A child is permitted to stay at Bedford Hills with its mother until 1 year of age; however, there are possible exceptions if the mother’s release date is within the next 6 months. Mothers at Bedford Hills must also participate in parental classes taught by qualified inmates.
In 1994 the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women
opened their prison nursery. An infant is allowed to reside with the mother in prison if the mother’s release date is before the child turns 18 months. Childbirth and parenting classes are mandatory before and after the birth of an incarcerated inmate’s child.
The nursery at Washington Corrections Center for Women, which opened in 1999, differs from the prison nurseries in New York, Nebraska and Ohio because it is not limited to non-violent offenders. Any inmate who is serving a sentence less than 3 years after her child is born may keep her child with her in the nursery until the child is 18 months old. At this point the mother and child move to a pre-release center for the next 18 months. Mothers at the Washington Corrections Center for Women can choose to have a caregiver who looks after the infant while the mother is at work.
The Ohio State Reformatory
nursery opened in April 2001. It can hold up to 20 inmates and their infants up to 18 months old. Every mother has a nanny who, like the mother, is an inmate who has taken parental classes and is serving time for a non-violent offense. The nanny is a volunteer inmate who is available at any time to care for a mother’s child when the mother has made a prior commitment.
, Germany
, has one of the best-known programs for incarcerated mothers and their children. Mothers who are on high-security and must stay on prison grounds are able to keep their children until they are 3 years old. They live in a "closed mother-child house" that is a separate enclosed building on the prison grounds. During the day, children attend preschool while their mothers are at work. Those mothers who are not a high-security risk live in an “open mother-child house” with their children. An open mother-child house opens to the nearby neighborhood, instead of opening to the prison - distinctly setting an open mother-child house apart from a closed mother-child house. Children are allowed to play in the nearby playground during the day while their mothers are at work.
If a mother is permitted work release
, and has a school-aged child living in Frankfurt, she spends the day at home taking care of her family but sleeps at the prison at night. A work-release mother is allowed to take her children to school and doctor appointments and grocery shop during the day. After she prepares dinner, she tucks her child into bed and departs back to the prison to sleep, leaving her child in the hands of a caretaker.
" formed between mother and child within the first two years of life. Prison officials in New York, Nebraska, Washington and Ohio believe that the first two years are a crucial time period for the mother and her infant. Most facilities allow the infant to reside with her mother until he/she is 18 months old because experiments have shown that the child will remember the connection formed with their mother, but will not remember the atmosphere in which it was formed.
Nurseries inside the United States
As of August 2008, six states have prison nurseries in the United States: New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Washington, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women is a prison for women in Bedford Hills in the Town of Bedford, Westchester County, New York, USA. Bedford Hills, the only New York State Department of Correctional Services women's maximum security prison, is the largest women's prison in New York State...
, a maximum security women’s prison in New York, was the only prison nursery that remained open throughout the 20th century. A child is permitted to stay at Bedford Hills with its mother until 1 year of age; however, there are possible exceptions if the mother’s release date is within the next 6 months. Mothers at Bedford Hills must also participate in parental classes taught by qualified inmates.
In 1994 the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women
Nebraska Correctional Center for Women
The Nebraska Correctional Center for Women is a state correctional facility for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. Located just west of York, Nebraska, it is the only secure state facility to house adult women....
opened their prison nursery. An infant is allowed to reside with the mother in prison if the mother’s release date is before the child turns 18 months. Childbirth and parenting classes are mandatory before and after the birth of an incarcerated inmate’s child.
The nursery at Washington Corrections Center for Women, which opened in 1999, differs from the prison nurseries in New York, Nebraska and Ohio because it is not limited to non-violent offenders. Any inmate who is serving a sentence less than 3 years after her child is born may keep her child with her in the nursery until the child is 18 months old. At this point the mother and child move to a pre-release center for the next 18 months. Mothers at the Washington Corrections Center for Women can choose to have a caregiver who looks after the infant while the mother is at work.
The Ohio State Reformatory
Ohio State Reformatory
The Ohio State Reformatory , also known as the Mansfield Reformatory, is a historic prison located in Mansfield, Ohio in the United States. It was built between 1886 and 1910 and remained in operation until a 1990 federal court ruling ordered the facility to be closed...
nursery opened in April 2001. It can hold up to 20 inmates and their infants up to 18 months old. Every mother has a nanny who, like the mother, is an inmate who has taken parental classes and is serving time for a non-violent offense. The nanny is a volunteer inmate who is available at any time to care for a mother’s child when the mother has made a prior commitment.
Preungesheim
Preungesheim, a maximum-security women’s prison in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, has one of the best-known programs for incarcerated mothers and their children. Mothers who are on high-security and must stay on prison grounds are able to keep their children until they are 3 years old. They live in a "closed mother-child house" that is a separate enclosed building on the prison grounds. During the day, children attend preschool while their mothers are at work. Those mothers who are not a high-security risk live in an “open mother-child house” with their children. An open mother-child house opens to the nearby neighborhood, instead of opening to the prison - distinctly setting an open mother-child house apart from a closed mother-child house. Children are allowed to play in the nearby playground during the day while their mothers are at work.
If a mother is permitted work release
Work release
In prison systems, work release programs allow a prisoner who is sufficiently trusted or can be sufficiently monitored to leave confinement to continue working at his or her current place of employment, returning to prison when his/her shift is complete...
, and has a school-aged child living in Frankfurt, she spends the day at home taking care of her family but sleeps at the prison at night. A work-release mother is allowed to take her children to school and doctor appointments and grocery shop during the day. After she prepares dinner, she tucks her child into bed and departs back to the prison to sleep, leaving her child in the hands of a caretaker.
Arguments in favor of prison nurseries
The states that have taken to incorporating prison nurseries within their correctional systems have done so in recognition of the "critical bondMaternal bond
The maternal bond is typically the relationship between a mother and her child.While it typically occurs due to pregnancy and childbirth, it may also occur between a woman and an unrelated child, such as in adoption...
" formed between mother and child within the first two years of life. Prison officials in New York, Nebraska, Washington and Ohio believe that the first two years are a crucial time period for the mother and her infant. Most facilities allow the infant to reside with her mother until he/she is 18 months old because experiments have shown that the child will remember the connection formed with their mother, but will not remember the atmosphere in which it was formed.