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Friday, August 15, 2008

Guest Blogger Working9to9: How come incarcerated women get all the luck?

I guess crime does pay. That is, if you're a new mom entering the Ohio Reformatory for Women. Why? Because they get to take their kids with them to work. Although prison isn't exactly anybody's idea of a dream job, women in this progressive prison always have their infants nearby.

Every night the babies get to sleep in their mom's individual cells. When they have classes or work, the women take their infants to a colorful nursery for activities and story time, hosted by the local library. Where do I sign up?

The only prerequisite (besides being pregnant or with a newborn upon starting your sentence) to getting into the Achieving Baby Care Success Program is that you can only be convicted of a non-violent crime (like burglary or money laundering--you know, the easy ones) and your sentence can't be longer than 18 months. 18 months? My maternity leave was only 6 weeks! Then I was back to the grind. No chance in hell my boss would let me bring my son with me. Family-friendly at my job means you can have pictures of your kids in your cube. That's about it.

Yet, Warden Sheri Duffey seems to understand the value of keeping mothers and their babies together because it "maintains that bond." Yeah, Warden knows.

The bond between my 9-week-old son and me is broken up by a 10-hour workday, which makes nurturing my baby pretty much impossible. Those lucky prison ladies can cuddle and breastfeed their babies all day long. Me? I have to shove my freshly pumped breast milk in the back of the office fridge and hope no one accidentally puts it in their coffee. As for cuddling, by the time I battle my commute and pick up my baby at daycare, I'm pretty much beat--all I can hope is that he'll go down easily so I can too. What commute does a prisoner have--a couple of feet, a few stairs? And with no housework or meals to cook (the prisoners do have to do their own laundry) just imagine all the free time!

Although I don't make hash marks on the gray walls of my cell-shaped cube, counting the hours until I'm reunited with my baby boy-- I do sometimes feel like I'm in a prison. Maybe I'm just in the wrong one.

What do you think of the idea of letting prisoners raise their infants behind bars?

7 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

Seriously, there is something SO wrong about our society. Why is it every other country supports new moms and families?

- Anonymous

Posted 08/15/08 12:19 PM

Not to sound anti-family, but those other countries are probably socialist… that’s why the government pays the new moms.

- Kate

Posted 08/15/08 01:25 PM

I don’t know, while I think that it’s unfair to allow women in prison the comfort of having their child AND I worry about a child in a prison (um, hello!) There is something to be said for giving these children a chance to break the cycle of crime, etc. in their family. They’re not being shuffled around the system being groomed to be the next generation of jailbirds, they’re probably getting a better program than they would on the outside too.

- Traci

Posted 08/15/08 01:28 PM

Wow the author of this article sounds a little bitter. Obviously these mothers didn’t make the right choiced in life but can you imagine never being able to hold your newborn child?? At least this gives them a chance.

- Kasi

Posted 08/15/08 01:52 PM

Is this early institutionalizing for the kids or does it give the moms a chance to learn something so they can support their families and don’t commit crimes in the future, and a chance to bond with their children in a way that makes them not want to take their kids along on crime sprees? Hopefully it’s the latter, but, I guess time will tell. And… although I’m a bit jealous of the ‘free’ daycare and education, I’d rather the gov. spend my tax dollars on rehabilitation of these women than spend housing them in jails and building even more jails for their children.

- starting 'em young?

Posted 08/15/08 02:50 PM

That’s amazing! So what if they’re in jail. Atleast they’re spending tie with their child and that teaches them to be a mom. They have no where else to go. As they pay the price, they’re doing what is right, being a MOM! I wish I could do that. I am proud that these women are doing something with their lives while being in jail. Going to school, working, and being the mother they should be.

- Lourdes

Posted 08/15/08 03:59 PM

Well, this one is tough, but, I would have to say that what is most important is the children. So, the focus should be on these innocent children rather than the mothers. These children deserve a chance in life just like any other child. It is not their fault their mother committed a crime. So, with that, I say, “Finally, the government has a program that will rehabilitate these women”! I have no problem paying taxes for that. If these women are in an environment where they can learn a better way to live, then I am all for it. For the mother who is bitter I would say rather than be upset about her life, she should find another way… Perhaps she could work out of her home. Lots of people are doing it these days. It’s definetly an option. I did it while raising four children and it was a great option.

- CK1

Posted 08/18/08 11:22 AM