Confused, enraged, hurt–children like Michael are innocent victims of their mothers’ crimes. Until recently, prison officials didn’t recognize that a child’s emotional dependence doesn’t stop just because his mother lands behind bars. Now attitudes are changing: institutions around the country have put programs in place to foster that vital relationship.
Some of the most innovative begin at birth. Federal prisons separate mothers and newborns after 24 hours, and few state pens allow inmates to spend time with infants. The Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island is a heartening contrast. The mothers’ cells surround the glass-walled nursery on three sides, and an intercom system keeps them in constant touch. If kids cry, moms can rush to their aid–the cells are never locked. Because a female federal prisoner is likely to do time far from home, a program called PACT (Parents and Children Together) is designed to improve long-distance parenting. “We counsel inmates to get as involved as possible by calling teachers on a regular basis,” says Jaretta Jones, an instructor at the federal penitentiary in Lexington, Ky.
Psychic costs: Penal authorities have also become more sensitive about the psychic costs to kids. Some children feel guilty about their parents’ predicaments–imagining, for example, if they hadn’t opened the door for the cops, Mom would be free. The Huron Valley Women’s Facility in Ypsilanti, Mich., provides kids with therapy after visits. “If we are going to lock up these mothers, we have to take some responsibility for those children,” says Marilyn Marshall, a vocational counselor at the prison. “They will certainly be our next generation of prisoners unless we pay attention now.”
