Raising babies in prison

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Tue, 20 Sep 2011 7:00p.m.

Judith Collins believes leaving babies with their mothers for longer may do them some good

Judith Collins believes leaving babies with their mothers for longer may do them some good

What would it be like to live in prison, and raise your baby there until the child is two?

It is National's hard-line law and order MP, a woman nick-named 'Crusher Collins', who has made the idea a reality. Why?

Ms Collins believes infants whose mothers are in prison are the most vulnerable, and that keeping them with their mums longer may do them some good.

Baby Aroha's backyard is shared between her home and another purpose built unit within prison grounds. Each unit has the capacity for four prisoners and four babies. The mothers say that it can be noisy, but they help each other out as well.

Sarah didn't know she was pregnant with Hunter when she entered prison. The environment Hunter is raised in is designed to meet his needs - but does it also meet society's need to see criminals punished?

These are minimum security prisoners. If these women didn't have babies, they'd be elsewhere, but in similar conditions, so it's not their conditions which are the privilege - it's getting to keep their babies.

They must be drug free and have no violent offences against children. They have to pass CYFS checks and undertake parenting courses.

Experts say it’s not just best for baby, it's best for the prisoners too.

But what about the cost?

Watch the video for the full story.

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Comments

29 Sep 2011 08:59p.m.

Patrick wrote:

Honestly,im just gonna say that this is just plain stupid.

23 Sep 2011 02:58p.m.

Geranium wrote:

Could they throw in a tubal ligation?

22 Sep 2011 06:31p.m.

David Murray wrote:

Judith Collins what a numb nuts. Come to Otara, Mangere or Manukau so see children whose parents didn't break the law and they are still dispossessed. $2,000,000 for 10 babies is 200,000 per baby per year. I'm a single dad and I get 15,000 a year from WINZ. And when I go back to work I can expect around 30-35,000 per year. Perhaps the D.O.C should do what they do in China and make the family or father pay the money. And what message to we send when there is no responsibility for criminal behaviour. These prisoners are living better than most people and what about that kind of help for solo dad's in or out of prison.

22 Sep 2011 09:39a.m.

Anton wrote:

It would appear Jean is the only one that understands what is actually happening.The rest of you seem to show.. well, ignorance.

21 Sep 2011 02:10p.m.

STELLA wrote:

Rediculus. Great life style for prisoners and thire kids. Govt spending hard working tax payers money.shame on you guys.

21 Sep 2011 01:14p.m.

Jean wrote:

In response to the comment about the television in the mothers and babies unit, televisions have been a permitted item in prisoner cells since the early 1980's. The majority of prisoners have televisions in their cells, which they either supply themselves, are left behind by other prisoners or donated. The Corrections Department does not supply individual prisoners with televisions. When prisoners are not participating in work, rehabilitation or reintegration, exercise or other constructive activities, they may choose to watch their television.

Self-care units, including mothers and babies units, are different from cells in that they aim to provide a transition step between the prison environment and life in the community. The purpose of the provided televisions in the common areas of these units is to allow prisoners likely to be close to their release date to keep up to date with news and current affairs information on free to air channels. Under the Corrections Act 2005, every prisoner must have access to information and education. Flat screen televisions are now considered standard in the community and are the safest choice for use around babies because they can be attached to the wall.

21 Sep 2011 11:30a.m.

ian wrote:

Clearly it can not be correct to allow women to have / bring up babies in prison.
Prison is a medium of punishment for criminals, not a nursery service for the undeserving!

21 Sep 2011 10:29a.m.

Ricardo wrote:

Might do the babies more good if their mothers made a conscious decision to stay out of prison.

20 Sep 2011 08:56p.m.

Maia wrote:

What a shame Donna. When I knew you you were a nice chick that happened to go down the wrong path.

20 Sep 2011 08:35p.m.

mongreldog wrote:

This is shocking! I saw a very large LCD television in one of those units. "If these women didn't have babies, they'd be elsewhere, but in similar conditions". Why is it that prisons provide criminals better lifestyle than honest hard work? Crippling taxes hold down the honest hard working people in this country sadly are required in order to provide the criminals such a sweet lifestyle.