1. Effects of a Prison Nursery Program on Recidivism
Lorie S. Goshin
Mary W. Byrne
Columbia University School of Nursing
Alana M. Henninger
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
The Graduate Center
City University of New York

2. Acknowledgements Research Participants
Studies: “Maternal and Child Outcomes of a Prison Nursery Program”, Principal Investigator Mary Byrne
Funders:
National Institutes of Health/National Institutes of Nursing Research RO1 NR00782,
Columbia University Institute for Child and Family Policy
NYS Department of Health Commissioner’s Priority Award

3. On any given day in the US….
1 in 746 women are in prison or jail
Are under some form of criminal justice control
Pew Center on the States (2008, 2009). One in 100: Behind bars in America retrieved from
Pew Center on the States (2009). One in 31: The long reach of American corrections. Retrieved from

4. Criminal Justice Involvement & Health Disparities
Higher prevalence of asthma, high blood pressure, mental illness, substance use disorders, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections than general adult population (Fazel & Baillargeon, 2010).
≈ 20-26% of all Americans infected with HIV, 29-43% with Hep C, 40% with TB passed through a correctional facility in 1997 (Hammett, Harmon, & Rhodes, 2002)
Incarcerated women are more likely than incarcerated men to report:
Medical, mental health, and substance use disorders (Binswanger, Merrill, Krueger, White, Booth, & Elmore, 2010)
A lifelong history of trauma and exposure to adverse childhood events (Messina et al., 2007)
A history of homelessness (Glaze & Maruschak, 2008)

5. Imprisoned Women and their Minor Children
Glaze, L.E., & Maruschak, L.M. (2008).

6. Prison Nursery Programs
Allow women to live with their children in correctional settings
Prison Nurseries: 8 prisons in 8 states
General eligibility criteria:
1) Pregnant upon admission,
2) Convicted of a nonviolent crime,
3) Expected release date months after due date,
4) No history of crimes against children.

7. New York State’s Prison Nursery History
New York State Corrections Law §611
Signed into law in 1930 by FDR, then Governor of New York. Remains virtually unchanged.
Gives eligible women the right to care for infants born in custody
Length of stay: up to 1 year, up to additional 6 months if mother’s release date expected between months of age
Gives superintendent and medical officer broad discretion
Includes shackling language since 2009
Implementation of §611
Eligibility: Main screening goal to determine whether an applicant would threaten the safety of other nursery participants
History of violence and indicated child welfare cases are reviewed closely and generally denied entry
Prison disciplinary record reviewed
Best interest of the child as guide

8. New York State’s Prison Nursery Operations
Photo by Joseph Rodriguez (2001)
Funded by DOC. Managed by non-profit social service agency. Staffed by civilians & corrections
Facility: Segregated from general population. Can house <= 29 mothers and infants
Working Mother Model: daily childcare provided to facilitate attendance in other educational and rehabilitative programs
Mandated parenting course and weekly group meeting

9. Prison Nursery Outcomes: Recidivism
Rates of return to prison appear lower than offenders from general population
Nebraska: 16.8% 3 year rate for women who completed the program (Carlson, 2009)
New York: 13% 3 year rate for women released in 1997 (NYSDOC, 2001)
Washington State: 15% return to prison within unspecified time frame (Roland & Watts, 2007)
Methodological limitations in available research
Data sources unspecified or unsystematic (e.g., nursery staff, self report of women who could be located)
Time frames not standardized
Recidivism not well defined- Alternately used for return to prison and rearrest. Felony reconviction not assessed.

10. Methods Recruitment from Bedford Hills and Taconic prison nurseries
Total N = 139
Cross-Sectional Phase 2001
N = 56 women, 58 children
Longitudinal Phase 2003 – 2007
N = 97 women, 100 children
Excluded N = 14 (Deported or imprisoned in another state on release, Youthful offender, not yet in the community for 3 years)

11. Measurement & Data Analysis
3 Year Recidivism: 1) Felony Reconviction,
2) Prison Reincarceration
Data sources:
Primary data from prison nursery studies
New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services unsealed data matched by criminal justice identification number. Cross checked by birth date and nursery incarceration date.
Data Analysis:
Kaplan-Meier for Categorical (Nursing intervention, Minority, Release with baby, PV). Substance abuse history not explored due to lack of variability.
Cox Regression for Continuous (Age at release, Length of Stay, Prior Arrests)

12. Sample Description Time on Nursery M = 6.9 months (SD = 4.7)
Age at release = 29 years (SD = 6.4, Range 18 – 49)
Race/Ethnicity:
Black (African, African-American, Afro-Caribbean) 42%
Latina 27%
White 31%
Mother and child released together 66%
Substance abuse history 77%
Clinically significant depression symptoms 75%

13. Criminal Justice History
Conviction:
Drug Sales or Possession: 54.7%,
Property Crime: 24.1%
VFO (Assault, Robbery, Negligent Manslaughter): 14.6%
Other (DUI, conspiracy, leaving the scene, weapons): 6.5%
Nursery incarceration due to PV 24.6%
Unsealed prior arrests M = 4.0 (SD = 5.8)
Unsealed prior convictions M = 3.0 (SD = 3.9)

14. Results: 3 Year Felony Reconviction
Crimes:
Drug Sales or Possession (N = 2)
Property (N = 5)
VFO (N = 2)
Mean time to reconviction = 20.6 months (SD = 9.8)

15. Results: 3 Year Return to Prison
New Commitment: 4.3% (N = 6)
Parole Violation: 9.4% (N = 13)
Predictors of Return to Prison:
Women in the nursery on PV 2 ½ times more likely to be reincarcerated by 3 years (HR = .42, p = .06)

16. Nursery Incarceration for PV
Not in nursery for PV
Nursery for PV
Mantel-Cox χ2 = 3.8, p = .05

17. Nursery Incarceration for VFO
No VFO VFO
Mantel-Cox χ2 = .76, NS

18. Race/Ethnicity African-American or Latina White, non-Latina
Mantel-Cox χ2 = .49, NS

19. Baby Released with Mother
Alternate Caregiver
Mother
Mantel-Cox χ2 = .65, NS

20. Discussion
Women released from a prison nursery program have very low likelihood of felony reconviction or return to prison within 3 years
Sample at high risk for recidivism:
Younger women
Drug offenders
Property offenders

21. Discussion
Comparison between prison nursery recidivism and all women released from NYS prisons in 2007 and
New Commitment
Parole Violation
Prison Nursery
4.3%
9.4%
All Female NYS Releases
Cohort
8.9%
20.4%
2007 Cohort
4.5%
29.3%

22. Conclusions
Consider prison nurseries with supportive services as a best practice in corrections for imprisoned pregnant women
Cost efficiency: partnership with local non-profits
Quality: positive infant and preschool outcomes, low recidivism
X Access: LIMITED
Compared to what? Quasi-Experimental research needed to compare prison nursery residents to
Women in states without access to prison nursery
Women allowed to remain in the community with their infants and older children.

23. For more information please contact:
Thank you!
For more information please contact:
Mary W. Byrne, PhD, MPH