Mothers in Prison: The impact of incarceration on motherhood

[@BrittonLynn]

This is an incredibly well-done and informative video. Thank you for educating me. I am praying for these beautiful mothers and their children right now.

[@MsKaitlinRose]

They currently just incarcerated my pregnant fiance and are detaining her for 90 days because of a probation violation right up to her due date and are not going along with the doctors orders even though she is a high risk pregnancy and has gestational diabetes and don't even try to accommodate her medical needs

[@MsKaitlinRose]

They are also going to send her to rehab even though she passed the drug test upon arriving at the prison and has been completely clean for months and when she told them that in court the judge looked at the probation office and asked if she actually was clean from drugs but neither one of them even knew and then proceeded to sentence her even though she was not assigned a attorney at all and now she was assigned a attorney but they won't answer any calls or anything at all and has never even spoke to her once at all

[@amandaa2720]

its utterly dispicable that any female prisioner be handcuffed or shakled. childbirth is the most painful scary situation that a woman can endure. they can easily use a tracking bracelet and let her give birth in a safe and appropriate manner. thats not right or humane.

[@ChynaRose]

Thank you so much for sharing this important video. You all (everyone filmed and the creators) have helped more people than you know

[@tinatorres7208]

Everyone is in entitled to their opinion. I'm the woman they shackled & just so you know whatever you think I or any expecting mother incarcerated deserves. Shackling affects the baby. Who is ultimately innocent. I was literally at the wrong place at the wrong time. & that's a situation any person from any background, class or race can find themselves in. I told my story to help all women.

[@uhegbu]

I think mothers in prison exists. They commit more or less the same crimes as men do, some worse than others and vice versa. Has an effect not just on children but wider society. I believe that prisoners can turn their lives around be it months, years or even a few decades. In my world, male prisoner, female prisoner it makes no difference. He/she committed a crime and should be locked up. The rebuilding process starts from there and as I said, it depends from individual to individual. Society I think must believe that women as well as men are unpredictable human beings. Can be good beings 50% of the time, bad on other times. No human including myself is perfect.

[@VeganEmelda]

@@uhegbu But the thing is, women and men (and trans/non-binary people) do have very specific needs and situations. Women, by and large, are jailed for non-violent drug and property crimes, at a much higher rate than men. The majority of women in prison were the sole providers for their children before incarceration, whereas the same is not true for men. Women in jail lead directly to foster care and kinship care, but the same is not true for men in prison. Pregnancy, as well illustrated by this video, requires different care (nutritionally, physically, socially) for the people pregnant versus non-pregnant people. We all commit crimes every day. Heck, I jaywalked twice already today! Laws are often unfairly enforced due to human bias. Why do people need to be locked up when most often the crimes are related to survival or medical issues (because addiction is a medical issue)? Further, how does locking anyone up help to rehabilitate them, prepare them for re-entry into the world, or give them skills and resources to not make the same choices (and "choice" is a very loaded word here) as they did before?

[@laurenhives2994]

This is absolutely horrifying. No woman, regardless of what she was convicted for, should ever have to give birth in these conditions. I don't care what she was charged for; that child has not committed a crime. By putting that stress on the mother it can cause complications with the baby. In addition, if the mother is able to leave prison and be with their child, wouldn't it be best to have the mother in good physical and mental conditions?

[@cpoohem]

messed up. She should sue if she hasn't already

[@renayesense999]

Based on most of the postings I see below, I believe that the main points of this video was missed; 1) Long histories of sexual and physical abuse, economic and educational neglect make for narrow "choices", 2) That most of the women were not aware that they were pregnant upon being arrested, 3) That the costs of recidivism among mother's and that of caring for institutionalized children by taxpayers is exorbitantly high and 3) And that a woman, arrested for non-violent crimes and heavy with child is typically NOT the same flight risk as a man. To be sure, there are women who are troublesome, violent and aggressive, but usually, their records speak to this. The sub categories of woman+pregnant needs are different from those of "male" and presents different challenges and responsibilities to those who benefit from the incarceration industry. And it IS an industry.

[@eszterdelfin]

The woman with the scars on her feet from shackles was not actually convicted, all charges against her were dismissed.

[@Nes826]

The only difference between your average State Senator and these people are that these women were caught, while others weren't. And these Senators hypocritically make harsh laws that they don't even follow. The least they could do is allow these babies to be born in a healthy manner. After all, the babies did nothing wrong.

[@Wishfull171]

Love the piano music at 7:37, what is this song?

[@thetruth3051]

I spent on and off 4 years. starting at P.I.C.C. first then Riverside

[@mr.yissal557]

Who is watching Now

[@harumph44]

Why not end the war on drugs and spend the money on drug rehab programs intead.Many of these mothers (and fathers) wouldn't be in jail in the first place.Not one mention of fathers when mothers are incarcerated. Even the biased family court system wouldn't give custody to a convicted person over a law abiding father. A much bigger problem are men getting raped in prison,which everyone seems to think is a big joke.I have no problem at all making the pregnancy and birth as comfortable as possible

[@sally11110]

while i do not dispute the treatment is not conducive with childbirth in the real world,do any of these women think that whatever crime they committed did not have a certain impact on someone else in some way.?Those women convicted had choices,Many victims do not!

[@VeganEmelda]

The majority of women in prison are there for non-violent crimes- primarily drugs and property offenses. Prison doesn't prepare women with the resources or skills to prevent those crimes once they are released. Do prisons exist to only punish, or do we want them to re-connect positively with their community and family and seek out resources to prevent recidivism once released?

[@rene9639]

i spent time in jail while i was pregnant due to bad choices i made and my entire family sufered or my choices

[@Antaraxiaa]

not trying to be mean, but these ladies are where they are because they most likely made someone feel uncomfortable, hurt, in pain, under stress and whatnot. They can't be complaining for not being treated like queens, prison is supposed to be harsh, so harsh that you don't want to go back there anytime soon. Many inside prison have more comfort than those outside of it. I do feel for the babies and kids of these ladies, they are innocent.

[@Nes826]

You are aware that the majority of female convicts were convicted for drug use, right? They are the victims of addiction, the drug dealers are most likely still out on the streets. So it seems that the oppressor has the choices, while the victims remained punished for something that they did to themselves.

[@amberd.h.w7667]

Gee, I'm glad that all the females I give a damn about are; intelligent, worthy, & healthy (mental & physical) enough mothers that this type of thing is a non-issue for them.