Prison mums can now keep babies for two years

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Thu, 22 Sep 2011 6:15p.m.

(Reuters file)

(Reuters file)

By Jessica Rowe

Controversial new long-stay mother and baby units have opened at prisons in Christchurch and Auckland.

Until now, infants could only stay with their prisoner mums for a maximum of nine months but that is now extended to two years.

It has a playground toddlers can only dream of, and the surrounding high security fences ensure they can never just wander off.

The facilities will enable women who give birth behind bars to keep their babies until they are two years old.

“These are the babies who are the most vulnerable children that we have in the country. They need a decent way to be brought up. This gives them a very secure environment with lots of help around their mothers,” says Minister of Police Judith Collins.

But some child health specialists say separation after two years is punishing the child as well.

“It's going to be painful for the child, deeply heartbreaking… It also does have developmental consequences - which are quite concerning - to break the attachment relationship at that age,” says infant mental health specialist Kate Dent Rennie

Plunket says corrections should consider extending it for another year.

“The first three years are really, really vital for the development of a child, [and] enhanced by a really strong attachment relationship,” says Plunket clinical advisor Maria Browne.

But Ms Collins says the majority of women prisoners serve only a two-year sentence, anyway.

The new purpose-built units cost $2 million to build and that much again per year to run.

According to the Government, that is money well spent if it stops the babies becoming criminals.

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Comments

20 Mar 2012 09:47a.m.

jan.. wrote:

It called child abused with a child and her childhood growing up in the prison cell, the decency is to allowed the mother outside jail to mind the baby for up to two years.. The child's future is at stake here and a short time Care Services for the child is appropriate until such time that the mother releases from jail.. Be aware that Corrections are forever balls things up..

23 Sep 2011 01:07p.m.

cherie wrote:

I have no problem with mothers behind bars having their babies with them. During the two years the mother and child are watched and helped. The mother is taught the right way to bring up children. What woiuld you rather have the babies thrown into the care of other family memebers who are probably just as bad with no one keeping an eye on them. Lets try and turn these mothers into good ones and break the cycle.

23 Sep 2011 06:43a.m.

Aryan wrote:

Mother behind bars? She's hardly fit to be a mother and the poor child should be removed from her influence for ever. Criminals really do have it easy in NZ.

22 Sep 2011 11:00p.m.

Geranium wrote:

Can we throw in a tubal ligation too?

22 Sep 2011 09:14p.m.

mel wrote:

I have to feel gut renched for the babies when he/she is taken away from his/her Mum at 2 years old. The poor child will feel like its whole world has been torn away being taken from Mum at 2 years old. They may still be little but they are old enough to know whats going on.

22 Sep 2011 09:14p.m.

johnmillan wrote:

I thought that prison inmates were not allowed to vote?Has she made another one of her stuff ups,she will have to go in November.One minute she is against crime,now when one goes to prison, you are given a holiday,with all the luxuries to go with it.

22 Sep 2011 06:47p.m.

RolanTheRat wrote:

Stop the babies from becoming criminals she says they are already behind bars just keep them there. and save the cost of a trial And does the 2 million cost to run it include the cost of keep for the inmates.