ABSTRACT
The separation brought about by incarceration affects both mothers and children. This chapter examines some of the impacts from the mother’s perspective. The greatest involvement of inmate-mothers lies in the placement of children prior to incarceration. Mothers who were involved in determining placements expressed the most satisfaction with the placements. Mothers who care about their children have a vested interest in their well-being. Involvement in decisions about their children begins with the decision to be a mother. Inmate-mothers should be encouraged to determine individually whether or not they will remain involved with their children during and after incarceration. Long-range impacts of these experiences on a child’s subsequent development and attitudes towards their mothers, themselves, authority figures, and law and order concepts must be assessed. The extent that the extended family influences mother-child ties during and after incarceration as well as its influence on the mother’s self-perception and general adjustment following release should be explored.
