326 12 Corrections and Prison Practices—Family Forensics
evaluations of existing programs come too late to help women like Louwam, it
is important that they become model initiatives for all institutions housing female
inmates so that adequate prenatal care, nutrition, and substance abuse treatment
help improve the outcomes of these high-risk pregnancies (Safyer & Richmond,
1995).
Further research needs to be conducted on the psychological effects of incar-
ceration for pregnant women. Once some of these effects are determined, then
counseling services could be designed to meet the prisoner's needs. Even though
adequate health care may be provided, if a woman experiences severe psychologi-
cal stress, her unborn child could still be harmed. Learning how to help pregnant
offenders cope and deal with their problems is an area that must be developed.
FEMALE PRISONERS AND
MOTHER-CHILD SEPARATION
Introduction
Children of inmates are often-overlooked victims. Moreover, this group is not small.
One estimate noted that there are 1.5 million children with an incarcerated parent
or parents (Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents, as cited in Adalist-Estrin,
1994). Brownell (1997) reported that at least 75% of female inmates have children,
with the average of two children per prisoner. Having a parent become incarcerated
can be very traumatic and can lead to severe consequences for most children, includ-
ing "anxiety, hyperarousal, depression, bedwetting, eating and sleeping disorders,
behavior and conduct disorders, attention disorders, and prolonged developmental
regression" (Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents, as cited in Adalist-Estrin,
1994, p. 165). As examined in this section, the mother—child separation can have
negative consequences for the mother as well.
When Annie was sent to prison for 1 to 3 years, she was 8-months pregnant. Upon
giving birth in prison, her baby was taken away from her and sent to live with Annie's
mother, who was interested in becoming a foster parent. Annie became depressed after
being separated from her baby and upon realizing that she may lose custody. She is worried
about the baby living with her mother because Annie reported being physically abused
by this woman while growing up. Despite this, she feels there are no other alternatives:
she cannot rely on the baby's father to help her because he beat and threatened her both
before and during her pregnancy. Annie's depression has escalated to the point of her
mentioning ways to commit suicide. (Brownell, 1997)
Leslie is a first-time offender who is incarcerated. She has a 9-year-old son who was
living with her prior to her incarceration. Her son now lives with his father from whom
Leslie is separated. The father does not want their son to go to the jail but agreed to allow
visitation. The son wants to visit his mother, yet he is afraid of the jail. Leslie is worried
that her son will no longer respect her and that she may be causing psychological damage
to him. Although she wants to see her son, she does not want him to see her in jail because
she tears this will create more damage than has already been done (Hairston, 1991b).