Due to my research below on Illinois newer mom and baby program, I chose to read "Babies are Pampered in Prison." I find this to be such a great opportunity for women who want to work on their lives, parent their own child, and start back up within society on a new path. Although it does seem expensive, I think this is one program that does and will work compared to many other programs out there that have higher incarceration return rates. It inspires me to want to do more with women and children within the prison setting!!
Research:
When looking for some examples of different ways that states and/or countries help the connection between children on the "outside" and parents whom are in prison, I came across several different programs, support efforts, and acts that sparked my attention within our own government system in the U.S. that seemed to provide some action. Below I have listed and summarized a variety of courses:
Parents in Prison- A family-support program that began in the Tennessee State Prison in response to inmate's concern regarding neglect and child abuse relevant to men who are in prison. This service is provided by an inmate committee that is overlooked and guided by a community advisory board and an institutional sponsor. The program consists of: classroom/correspondence courses, monthly events, guest speakers, and family infused social activities. All of these "lessons" are to address problems/issues that surface when a father is in prison as well as how to help when he is released in order to keep and/or improve his relationship with his child(ren). A very positive and uplifting family-support program that seems to have a good course outline that really demonstrates how important it is for fathers to communicate, build, give-back, get ahead for when they are released. (Info from sciencdirect.com)
Moms and Babies- A program implemented in Illinois in 2007, after a seven year long process, that provides support for mothers and babies in which after the mothers have their child, within prison walls, they are allowed 6 weeks without a work assignment (a prison maternity leave) and then they set into a scheduled routine that helps with caring for the child, themselves, as well as prepares them for release. They are housed within the "Mom and Babies Unit" where they are able to stay with their child, the baby is cared for, and it is a positive environment for a child to begin their life (of course as best they can with a mother in prison). This is an amazing program that has been created not only because of the great family-support, learning services, and guidance for the mothers, but the women whom have gone through this process have not returned to corrections! The Decatur Correctional Center, who has implemented this program within their facility, is medium-security prison holding about 500 inmates and from the 25 that have graduated from this program ZERO have returned. If this could spark more facilities to participate with mother-baby programs, this could truly enhance a women's desire to seek education, career, and to maintain a positive lifestyle for not only her child, but for herself too! (Info from pantagraph.com)
Second Chance Act- In 2008 the act passed authorizing a yearly allowance, on state and local levels, to implement programs that help with society reentry services. I had no idea that this even existed; I would be interested in seeing statics for which programs/services worked and what the return rates were back into incarceration because it is not just the money that has to work, the programs have to be helpful as well (a team effort!). However, it seems as though it is a start and for the fiscal year of 2011 the proposal is as follows:
On July 22, 2010, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2011 that allocates $50 million for Second Chance Act programs. The bill, which contains $29.9 billion in total budget authority, provides $3.7 billion for state and local law enforcement programs and also includes:
- $11 million for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act
- $520 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants
- $214 million for Byrne Discretionary Grants
- $40 million for Byrne Competitive Grants
- $586 million for Community Oriented Policing Service Grants
- $45 million for drug courts
- $20 million for residential substance abuse treatment for state prisoners
- $300 million for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program
- $468 million for the Office on Violence Against Women
- $490 million for juvenile justice and delinquency prevention
- $468 million to prevent violence against women
- $400 million to prevent, investigate, and prosecute crimes against children under the Adam Walsh Act
- $841 million for the Crime Victims Fund
