“I’ve Got Something to Live for Now”: A Study of Prison Nursery Mothers

Abstract

This study explored the perceptions of incarcerated women, housed in prison nursery units in three states, of the effects of the nursery units on their parenting and well-being, as well as their views on the potential long-term effects on their recidivism. In-depth interviews were conducted with nursery-participant women offenders in Illinois, Indiana, and Nebraska in order (1) to learn more about the women’s experience of giving birth to and raising a child in prison; and (2) to understand their perceptions of how this experience might impact their parental and life choices post-release. The interviews revealed that the women believed the mother–child attachment and bonding while in prison influenced their growth and development in a positive way, and enhanced their mothering abilities. The women also indicated that they felt empowered and more effective in their parenting role due to the gender-responsive nursery programs and that program implementation and design impacted their perspective of program effectiveness. The implications for further policy recommendations are discussed.