NCJ Number
149999
Journal
Illinois Bar Journal Volume: 82 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1994) Pages: 428- 432
Date Published
1994
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This discussion of services for children of incarcerated mothers focuses on the scope of the problem, offenses for which women are imprisoned, the status of children of incarcerated mothers, and programs designed to address the problem.
Abstract
The latest available Illinois figures show 1,715 women in prison, and the percentage estimated to have minor children is 80.86 percent. Society is incurring extraordinary costs to maintain the policy of imprisoning mothers for many crimes that were formerly punishable by probation. The incentives of current policy favor placing the children of inmates in foster care rather than in the care of relatives. Although relatives may be licensed to receive the amount paid to foster care families, some critics believe the screening process focuses too much on the condition of physical facilities rather than the quality of the relationship. This article describes five programs developed in various States for the children of inmates. They include inmate family support services in the community, provision for more frequent and intensive visits between inmate mothers and their children, a program that allows inmates who give birth in prison to keep their babies with them for up to 1 year, frequent-furlough programs, and facilitation of the transition from prison to parenting in the community. Programs operating in Illinois are also described. 32 footnotes