Mothering Behind Bars: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Prison Nursery Programs on Recidivism Reduction

Introduction

  • Incarcerated mothers in the U.S.:
    • Approx. 65,600 mothers in correctional facilities have 147,400 children.
    • 64% of these mothers lived with their children before incarceration.
    • Children are placed mainly with grandparents (45%) or other relatives (23%).
  • Trends:
    • Incidence of incarcerated mothers increased by 122% from 1991 to 2007.
    • In 2004, 4% of women in state custody and 3% in federal prisons were pregnant when admitted.
  • National policies on pregnant inmates are lacking, leading to varied outcomes for infants.
  • Eight states currently have prison nursery programs to support mothers and infants.

Goals and Benefits of Prison Nursery Programs

  • Primary goal is to allow mothers and infants to bond and develop emotional attachments.
  • Programs provide education in child development and parenting skills.
  • Advocates claim strong mother-infant bonds can improve parental competency and reduce recidivism.

Historical Context of Prison Nursery Programs

  • Originated in early 19th-century England, adopted in the U.S.
  • Notable historical programs:
    • Newgate Gaol, London allowed infant care in the 1800s.
    • New York’s Bedford Hills program permitted mothers to keep infants until age 1, enacted into legislation in 1930.
  • Significant decline in nursery facilities by 1960 due to safety concerns.
  • Renewed interest in the 1980s led to the revival of these programs, with current offerings in eight states.

Methodology of Study on Effectiveness of Programs

  • Reviewed studies via the Maryland Scientific Methods Scale (SMS) to evaluate effectiveness based on rigor:
    • Levels of evidence ranging from correlational studies (Level 1) to randomized experiments (Level 5).
  • Study selection involved empirical studies on prison nursery effectiveness, excluding qualitative data or community-based programs.

Sample Overview

  • Sample included 7 studies evaluating common prison nursery programs:
    • Nebraska Correctional Center for Women MOLD Program
    • Indiana Women’s Prison Wee Ones Nursery (WON)
    • Studies used varied methodological designs with differing conclusions about recidivism impacts.

Findings from Evaluative Studies

Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (NCCW) Programs
  • Carlson conducted three studies demonstrating lower recidivism rates among participants compared to control groups.
  • Specific findings:
    • 1998: 5% recidivism for participants vs 17% for nonparticipants.
    • 2001: 9% vs 33%; 2009: 16.8% vs 50%.
Indiana Women’s Prison
  • Koch and Tomlin's study (2010) found no recidivism in participants at 3 months and low at 6 months.
  • Whiteacre et al. (2013) provided mixed results: 10% readmission for participants vs 18% for nonparticipants.
New York Prison Programs
  • Staley (2002) found lower recidivism rates at the Bedford Hills program:
    • 1 year: 5.3%-8.3% vs control 32%; 3 years: 13.4%-25.9%.

Overall Assessment of Effectiveness

  • Most studies suggest prison nursery programs indicate a positive trend in reducing recidivism.
  • However, methodological weaknesses limit conclusive effectiveness:
    • Many lack rigorous statistical testing and proper control group matching.
    • Classified as having “unknown” effectiveness based on the SMS classification framework.

Implications for Future Research

  • Need to refine methodological designs and ensure proper statistical testing.
  • Explore variables affecting winners, such as mother-infant attachment dynamics and educational program outcomes.
  • The evidence for positive outcomes, such as secure attachments and parenting efficacy, supports continued investment in institutional nursery programs despite current classifications.

Conclusion

  • The potential benefits of prison nursery programs for forming secure attachments indicate a need for further study and program improvement.
  • Although not definitively proven as effective, these programs hold promise for reducing recidivism rates among participants, warranting their continued implementation and evaluation.