Politics & Government
Convict Mothers Raising Newborns in Prison?
Lawmakers are considering legislation that would study the feasibility of allowing female offenders who give birth in prison to care for their children on site.
State Rep. DebraLee Hovey, a Republican representing Newtown and in the 112th House District, is one of several co-sponsors who support the idea of a nursery facility at the Connecticut Correctional Institution in Niantic.
Susan Quinian, Executive Director of the nonprofit Families in Crisis, Inc. said passage of HB 5288 would help strengthen vulnerable families.
“When offenders go to jail, their families do time, too,” Quinian said in testimony before the Judiciary Committee. “Offenders who do not have positive family support often re-offend and tragically studies who that their children are more likely to repeat the cycle. The economic and social costs to our citizens and communities are enormous.”
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Leo C. Arnone, Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, also supports the bill.
“Research clearly points to the importance of the mother-child emotional and psychological bonds and the fact that strong familial ties factor heavily in successful reentry into the community and lower recidivism rates,” Arnone said in his testimony.
