Missouri Policy Spotlight: Prison Nursery Programs
Dr. Jill Barnas
Missouri has one of the fastest growing female prison populations in the United States.
Of the 2,045 Missouri women incarcerated in 2020, 87.3% were in their reproductive years (aged 18–45 years old) and 1% were pregnant. In 2020, 79.2% of incarcerated Missouri women were White and 15.7% were Black.
A bill containing several provisions relating to childcare for incarcerated individuals (SB 683) was passed by the Missouri General Assembly on the final day of session.
The bill created Missouri’s Correctional Center Nursery Program, which will allow infants born in prison to remain with their incarcerated mothers for their first 18 months of life. It also provides incarcerated mothers with educational training in child development and parenting skills, while also giving them an opportunity to bond with their newborns.
Prison Nursery Programs can improve the well-being of both mothers and infants.
Approximately 15% of Missouri women report experiencing postpartum depression symptoms. Compared to the general population, mothers who have been incarcerated are more likely to be affected by postpartum depression due to the separation from their child. Self-report data from participants suggests that nursery programs contribute to a reduction in postpartum depression symptoms. Women who participated in the nursery program believe it influenced their personal growth, development, and enhanced their mothering abilities. The women also indicated that they felt more effective in their parenting role.
Recidivism is the tendency for an individual convicted of a crime to reoffend. Previous research estimates that 30–45% of women released from prison will return within 3 years. Recent program evaluations of correctional center nursery programs show significant decreases in recidivism for women who participate compared to those who do not.
Research Highlight: Correctional Center Nursery Programs are associated with reductions in recidivism and improved maternal mental health.
Children of incarcerated mothers are often cared for by a relative or foster caregiver, which is associated with increased time spent in the child welfare system and a decreased likelihood of being reunited with their birth mother. Additionally, if the mother is reincarcerated, the child will need a new caregiver, which can create disruption and have negative effects on intellectual and attachment outcomes.
Research Highlight: Babies who are born in prison and are able to maintain the mother-child connection after prison have lower rates of depression, anxiety, and associated learning disabilities than babies who were unable to maintain their mother-child connection.
Prison Nursery Programs vary greatly from state to state.
There are no standardized requirements or state or federal guidelines. Eight states (Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia) have operational PNPs that allow incarcerated mothers to keep their babies for 12–36 months after birth; South Dakota’s PNP allows only 1 month. Pennsylvania and California had PNPs which were discontinued due to lack of financial resources and instances of abuse.
Programs may also need to consider protocols for the eventual separation of mother and child for those with long sentences. Community aftercare programs can provide additional support to mothers to ensure they transition successfully back to ‘normal’, but they are not always available.
Learn More: Our Correctional Nursery Program Science Note found that Correctional Center Nursery Programs can be beneficial for both maternal and infant health and development.
Want to learn more about health and human services policy in Missouri? You can read all of our related Science Notes on our website.
