Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women, a maximum security prison in Westchester County, NY, is not the place you might expect to find this — even the inmates were shocked when they discovered that inside there was a full nursery. When Jennifer Dumas was arrested for theft, she was three weeks pregnant with her daughter.
While most mothers in correctional facilities would have to part with their babies, Jennifer is allowed to spend up to 18 months with her daughter in the nursery unit. The new program allows babies and mothers to form the pivotal bond that is essential to the child's health, development, and emotional stability.
“At the end of their prison nursery time, they were able to pass on to the majority of the children a sense of security,” researcher Mary Byrnes told CBS.
A shining example of how effective the program can be is Stephanie Reis. After serving two years for drug trafficking, Stephanie's bond with her son was the catalyst for turning her life around. She now works at nonprofit and is going to college to become a social worker.
“He’s what really keeps me going. I just want to give him a life that I never had and break this cycle,” Reis said. While many people are quick to judge and swift to punish those who break the law, they may overlook that when a parent is imprisoned, it is also their children who are punished. Byrnes believes that community service would be a more a effective punishment for pregnant moms and mothers with very young children. What do you think of this program? Let us know in the comments!
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