Mothers in Prison

By Connie Sampson

There have been such excellent comments to my last column ' Play Pen – itentiary” that we are publishing some of them and my replies for you.
 

“Rehabilitated”
To be fair, as someone that's been in jail, it's not that bad. Yes there are drugs, yes there is violence but only as much as in the regular world. Most people in prison are in for something stupid like doing drugs and are non-violent, and the worst are either in federal or maximum jails.

Presumably you wouldn't keep the kid in general population, in which case it wouldn't be that bad because most people are just waiting to get out having long learned their lessons and having a kid would actually cool emotions for those around (along the lines of saying “hey watch your mouth, there's a kid around).

Yeah, sometimes a crazy person goes nuts for pizza but they're crazy first, prisoner second. There's a whole underlying social problem why that person is committing crimes. It's unfair to say that because you once heard about a crazy person in prison that they are all that violent and are not capable of raising children.

Lighting it up

P.A.'s Zablocki leads Regina to victory on Day 4 at Esso Cup

13h ago

WORLD SOFTBALL

Group stages officially set for Men's Softball World Cup in P.A.

19h ago

Safety first

Safety concerns and tips surrounding discarded needles in P.A.

Apr 23, 2024

This is basically just an example of misplaced hysteria. I mean really, why do you even care? In a country of some 30 million you waste a column writing about some obscure case, tying completely separate events together to try to find a point for something that in the end might never even happen and even if it did probably wouldn't matter.

How about instead of soapboxing on some pointless matter you use your column to tackle an actual social issue such as (off the top of my head) why are there so many women in jail, why are there so many people in jail, why are there so many aboriginals in jail, why are there so many mentally unstable people in jail? You used to be an awesome reporter, now I just read you stuff to scoff at how random and pointless your articles are.

Connie
Rehab,
You are one in a thousand or two. You are rehabilitated. It isn't easy. Congratulations.
I am confused about when you are talking 'jail' and when you are talking 'penitentiary' and when 'general population' and when the much smaller 'community' in a prison or healing lodge for women.
Generally, more than half of all women incarcerated are violent offenders. It isn't a very stable environment. Using the pizza incident was I admit, not very pertinent, except that she is in a prison with other women. Trust me. I know her and she isn't crazy.
I'd love to debate with you on 'crazy' and evil.
Hysteria. I am too old and jaded to be hysterical and a column isn't a news story. A column is meant to take one side and generate some thinking and arguing. I am not yet comfortable with this mode. It is quite different to what I have written about for the last 14 years. I'll settle in eventually. Meanwhile, you have thought about this topic, argued and argued well.
Actually, I do care about it. A child should have the best environment and opportunities available. Many don't, but being raised in jail isn't a step forward. Kids should be allowed to be kids, with some restrictions for their safety, and they should have lots of other kids to interact and form their own social standards. I believe kids in jail would matter and exists in some places already.
Why so many women, people, aboriginals and unstable people in prison? I think it is a) because they commit crimes and b) society hasn't decided to deal with them rationally.
Thanks for the compliment on my reporting day. I appreciate it.
When you think of an important topic for me to write about, let me know. I don't get out and about every day as I did before I retired. My finger 'on the pulse of the community' admittedly has

“no babies in jail”
I guess if it's not that bad, the justice system should crack down a little bit and make it less inviting, then people won't be going back 2 or 3 times. You ask “why do we care” because someone has to, obviously the women turning out these babies don't.

“Witness”
Maybe if the mother bonds with the child, it will give her incentive to live a better life. Maybe if a child is not denied the love of its mother, it will go on to live a better life. You are building quite the hysteria into your opinion – these programs don't toss children to the wolves. They aren't living in and with the general population and especially not with the violent offenders such as the young woman you described. The mothers aren't left to their own devices, either. There is support and guidance for them. the goal is to break the chain of destructive behaviour that led her into prison in the first place. “And the child shall lead them ….”

connie
Obviously you know whereof you speak. Which prison were you at when you witnessed the program in action? Will you tell us more?
Support and guidance is a great idea. Would that some of the rest of us had some of that when we trying to raise children in lousy circumstances. I think all parents could use some. I am glad high schools have made parenthood a part of the programs.
Is the child being used to break the chain of destructive behaviour? Does the child need to go through the process with the mother? Do all such women have to go to jail? Could close contact and teaching change anything on the outside?

no babies in jail
No hysteria here, absolute truth. As for conjugal visits, that is is crock in either a male or female institution. As for bonding with their child, inmates only think of their families and children when they are locked up, they don't care about them once they are on the streets, if they did, they wouldn't be there.

“Alice”
Perhaps as part of being in the prison system, the prisoner must then be given a birth control shot. Prison is a time-out from most forms of regular living while the prisoner is given time to consider their actions and consequences. No child should be born into this irregular living standard. When does it become a human rights issue though? It's a slippery slope to tell someone they cannot have a child. But if there were a program to have prisoners on birth control while they are incarcerated, and it is published and is public knowledge, and then by committing crimes that sends them into the penal system, the prisoners therefore would waive their rights to bear children…should be acceptable, right?

connie
When women were sharing prisons with men, before separate institutions were built, birth control would have been a good idea. It could have been an option offered. It still could be an option, offered with regard to conjugal visits. It couldn't be forced though because of decisions with regard to human rights in this society.
I don't think making birth control a policy would change criminal activity. Some societies have horrifically harsh punishments and they still have plenty of people in their prisons. In one country, drunk driving is punishable by death – even the first offense and yet they have drunk drivers. Self discipline isn't easy for anyone.

“Alice”
Point taken, and I agree. I don't think a birth control policy would be “for” the women imprisoned, but “for” the prisons, and “for” the children. I was thinking more about how birth control policy could be made policy that wouldn't involve asking the woman's permission (and now that I've said it, it sounds barbaric). No doubt the women in prisons have made poor choices to be incarcerated, and then some found themselves pregnant in prison. You're right – if birth control were made policy in prisons, it would deter very few criminals from committing those crimes. But who looks out for the children?