New mother Keisha is a natural as she attends to her baby
son Jack. The mother-son bond is clearly secure and loving.
On the surface of it, little Jack’s surroundings are pretty
idyllic. He has a comfortable cot, stimulating toys and a pram for walks.
Outside is a well-kept green lawn with colourful playground
equipment. There are other mothers and babies nearby, an indoor play area and
he undergoes his regular infant checks by health workers. To Jack, the world
looks pretty good. And yet in truth his environment is anything but typical.
For Keisha, 22, and Jack are living within the secure confines of Jacaranda
Cottages mothers and babies unit at Emu Plains Correctional Centre in Sydney’s
west.
While some may flinch at the idea of a baby living in
prison, the alternative – a newborn being separated from their mother, even if
circumstances are safe for them to be together – is arguably worse.
Being imprisoned as a new mother still has its challenges,
such as having no freedom or autonomy and being constantly monitored by
government departments, but it’s also an opportunity for inmates to take part
in parenting programs and build an important bond with their baby.
At Jacaranda Cottages, babies and young children up to
school age can live with their mum while she serves her sentence.
Here Keisha, who began taking drugs after falling in with
the wrong crowd as a teenager, tells what her life is like in jail and
how the experience is shaping her future.
“My life is good at Jacaranda Cottages because I have been
able to bond with my newborn son,” she says. “I was lucky to get onto the
program as obviously there are some inmates who don’t meet the criteria. My
daily routine is just like any other mother apart from having a head check (a
headcount to ensure all inmates are present) at 6.30am. I then prepare my son’s
day and the Mothers and Children’s program runs groups that we must attend,
including parenting courses, art therapy and playgroup," she says.
“I get constant support from staff and other inmates too.
When I was pregnant I had pre-natal checks and after Jack was born at the local
public hospital under the guard of a prison officer, my family came down and stayed
in a hotel in the area. This enabled them to meet my child and also gave me
comfort of having them around at this special time.
If I hadn’t been able to keep Jack with me the alternative
would have been for my baby to be cared for by my sister who is completing a
nursing degree. She would have had to put her studies on hold until I was
released.
I’ve been able to address my drug abuse issues while I
serve my sentence and I feel confident when I am released that I will be a good
mother and citizen.
Now I’m looking forward to getting back into the community. I’m going to create a positive future for myself and my son. I’m planning to do a TAFE course in business and I hope to bring my child up to be a fine young man.”
It wasn't until after Keisha was convicted of drug charges
she learned she was pregnant. Inside Australian prisons life isn’t so bad
for mother and child, but this isn’t always the case in different countries.
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