ABSTRACT
When the mother of a young child receives a custodial sentence the immediate concern is: who will take responsibility for the baby while she is in prison? This is no light question, for most young children are cared for mainly by their mothers. When a mother goes to prison, who will – or can – adapt their life to give round-the-clock care and supervision, adapt their home, and provide the playmates, toys, and equipment that are part and parcel of home for a young child? Although Social Inquiry Reports, which record family circumstances, are available to the court, child-care issues rarely play a part in the choice between a custodial or a community-based disposal. Nevertheless, it is the first problem confronting the woman herself, her family and friends, the social, probation, and prison services.
