Women in Prison with Babies

Introduction

Female inmates who are expecting or have a baby under six months old are eligible to apply to live in the self care units or use the feeding and bonding facilities. The self care units are also used as a re-integrative placement and are available to other inmates that are nearing their release.

Reference: (Please refer to the related links section on this page).:

• PS Policy and Procedure Manual, section F.05 Self Care Units for Female Inmates, and
• PS Policy and Procedure Manual, section D Special Needs, D.16 Pregnant Inmates and Inmates with Babies, and D.16.01 Feeding and Bonding Facilities.

Entrance criteria

Entry to the self care units and feeding and bonding facilities is not automatic and is limited to those who:

• meet restrictive criteria, and
• are assessed as suitable by the prison.

Reference: (Please refer to the related links section on this page), PS Policy and Procedure Manual.

Advising the court of self care and feeding and bonding units

When making a recommendation of imprisonment for women who have a baby or are expecting a baby, probation officers must advise the court that each offender is assessed against the criteria for the self care units and feeding and bonding facilities by the prison.

The offender can only be approved for a placement in specialist unit by prison management once commencing a term of imprisonment.

Reference: For more information about babies in prison, refer to the Standards and Policy page, Service Descriptions, Feeding and Bonding Facilities and Self Care Units for Female Inmates. (Please refer to the related links section on this page).