Pregnant Prisoners?

Factual Questions
1

Hey all,

A conversation with a friend the other day led to the issue of pregnancy in prison. We began to wonder what happens if a female prisoner becomes pregnant (say, through a conjugal visit or something). Is she allowed to carry it to term? What happens to it later? Also, what about pregnant women convicted of crimes and sentenced to prison? Are there any special arrangements taken until the child is born?

I’m sure there are simple procedures for this that I’m unaware of… but thanks for any insight!

2

There are a great many variables to be considered here.

Many Western nations do have mother and baby jail units, and these are not just for those who give birth whilst inp rison but also for those very recent births prior to incarceration.

Social services would look at the whole picture, is there a father or any other close relative to the child who could take custody.

Sadly there are a significant number of babies born who are already addicted to hard drugs and this may require a long period of hospitalisation for the child.

If the jail term is short, which is very often the case for women, then the baby may be allowed to remain with the mother.

It has been the case that some women have made sure they would be pregnant between arraignment and the actual trial and sentencing in the hope of obtaining leniency from the courts, or maybe an increased chance of parole when sentenced.

Here are a few things for you to read.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/crimeandpunishment/story/0,8150,527116,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_387000/387161.stm

One very serious problem for the welfare of the child is that a very large number of prisoners leave jail with very little, which would be hard enough for a lone adult, but for a mother and child it is an unenviable position to be in.

Women are generally lower category offenders than men but there are cases where very serious offences have been committed and appropriate jail terms are handed down.
These are currently rare but it is a growing problem.

Social service agencies take such circumstances into account, after all, if the only motivation for having a child is the hope of a lesser jail term rather than the welfare of the child itself it may well be in the best interest of the child to be adopted, there is usually no shortage of prospective parents for a baby.

It is not a simple issue.

3

The cousin of an ex girlfriend got was 6 months pregnant when she was sentenced to 15 years for attempted murder. She was not a nice person. Her sister took the baby after the birth and the boy still lives with her. As far as I know, the mother is still in prison. In my state, the welfare folks usually try to place the baby with a family member or as a last resort, in a foster home. The women’s prison in Washington state does not have facilities to care for infant children.

4

Yes and no, unfortunately. There’s never a shortage of prospective parents for a perfect baby. When the baby’s born addicted, though, or has some other such special needs, the list suddenly becomes a lot shorter.

5

Whatever happened to Susan Smith? Didn’t she get pregnent in jail?