Ethical considerations for children living with their imprisoned mothers

Abstract

In France, pregnant women or women with children under the age of 18 months, and in exceptional cases 24 months, can serve their prison sentences in specially equipped nurseries or mother-child cells. This situation is likely to have a negative impact on the child's health, and on the quality of the bond with the mother over the longer or shorter term. The benefits of maintaining this bond are indisputable, whatever the setting. Improvements to this system could be considered and implemented.