The acting director of the Missouri Department of Corrections told a panel of lawmakers that the plan now is to have room for 14 mothers, double the size.
Incarcerated mothers in Utah may soon get the chance to get to know their babies face-to-face without having to worry about being a stranger to their own child upon release.
The Missouri Department of Corrections is required to establish a nursery within a women’s prison by July 2025 under legislation signed into law Friday by Gov. Mike Parson.
oldest prison nursery and 7-month-old delilah is one of its youngest residents. charlene was newly pregnant when sentenced. the thought of having her baby in prison was devastating and she almost decided not to. i m very antiabortion, but, of course, the thought is going to cross your mind because who wants to actually have a baby in prison and not be able to save the baby? i actually made an appointment not to have her. i couldn t do t i was like, no. so i kept her. delilah is one of nine babies living at bedford hills. here the infants do leave their unit. baby movement. reporter: when the mothers go to mandated programs the babies go to daycare. staffed by other inmates like sheryl howard serving 16 years to life for robbery. she says being with the babies is the bright spot of each day. just stole because had a habit to take care of. there s no habit to take care of now. i have a habit with the babies
their babies with them for up to 18 months. mara, i ve seen bits of this report. it is fascinating. it s a new sense of social responsibility on the part of the prisons and for the bond of the mother and child. bedford hills has the country s oldest prison nursery and this 7 7-month-old is one of the newest residents. i m very antiabortion. but of course, the thought was going across your mind because who wants to actually have a baby in prison and not be able to save the baby. i made an appointment not to have her. i couldn t do it. i was like, no. i kept her. reporter: she is one of nine babies living at bedford hills.