Mothers, Infants and Imprisonment: A National Look at Prison Nurseries and Community-Based Alternatives

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY from the Women's Prison Association
“Are there really babies in prison?”

"At the Women’s Prison Association (WPA), hardly a week passes without us receiving an inquiry to this effect. Not surprisingly, the image of babies – cute, joyful, innocent – residing in our popular culture’s image of prisons – harsh, scary, full of “offenders” – arouses a great deal of curiosity. People who contact us want to know: What happens when a woman has a baby in prison? Which states have prison nursery programs? And are they a good thing?

"In this report, WPA highlights two different responses to women who give birth while under criminal justice supervision: prison nurseries and community-based residential parenting programs. We provide an overview of both types of programs1, review the literature on the subject, and offer recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers."

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