Ohio, New York, Nebraska and Washington have already opened prison nurseries. They observed that out of a dozen women who nursed children behind bars, none has returned to prison and that motherhood became a tool that keep women prisoners from committing more crimes.
The Correctional Nursery Program shall have the following purposes:
a) Establish an Infant Care Center or correctional facility; nursery at a medium security
b) Keep inmates from committing crimes while in custody through involvement in the various activities of the Program;
c) Provide drug counseling services to those identified as substance abusers and educate incarcerated mothers on parenting skills and family relations;
d) Evaluate, monitor and treat infants born to mothers with histories of substance abuse; and
e) Increase the likelihood that released participants of the Program shall
lead peaceful, productive and drug-free lives, thus, reduce recidivism.
I wonder what the percentage of inmates who are mothers are even eligible. I do think it's a proactive stance toward mothers for the future though!
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