Born Behind Bars

Incarcerated mother in the Wee Ones Nursery program in Indiana Women's Prison holds her baby.

Of the 75,000 women entering U.S. prisons each year, up to 7,500 are pregnant. Most of the babies are removed at birth.

A mother plays with her baby as part of the Wee Ones Nursery program at the Indiana Women's Prison.

Indiana Women's Prison is home to the Wee Ones Nursery program, which allows a limited number of qualified mothers to keep their children with them.

Ms. Green, Director of the Wee Ones Nursery program.

Ms. Green was the Director of the Wee Ones Nursery program. She was one of the people responsible for deciding who would be allowed into the unit, and helped make the decision to remove inmates—and their children—from the program when necessary.

Brandi received a 20-year sentence for dealing meth.

Brandi received a 20-year sentence for dealing meth. She's devoted to her daughter, Addison, and was preparing for a parole hearing in the hopes of turning her life around.

Wee Ones Nursery program participant Stephanie calls her children from prison.

Stephanie was sentenced to two-and-a-half years for violating probation on a drug possession charge. She had her baby Abigail with her in the program, and frequently called her other children who were living with her mother.

baby

If a woman can make it through the Wee Ones Nursery program, both mother and baby have a better chance of staying out of prison for good.

Follow the rules

Women in the Wee Ones Nursery program need to comply with special rules to keep the dorm safe. For example, no objects are allowed in the crib with the baby.

Additional rules of Wee Ones program

Additional rules of the Wee Ones Nursery program include keeping the babies in their cribs during inmate counts and keeping rooms clean at all times.

Failure to comply with rules

Failure to comply with the rules of the Wee Ones Nursery program will result in an inmate getting sent back to general population. Their children will either be sent home to live with family or put into foster care

Corrections Officer Breann Leath

In addition to being a CO in the Wee Ones Unit, Officer Leath was in the National Guard and was a member of the Military Police Corps. As an expecting mother herself, she learned a lot from the inmates, especially Brandi.

Ms. Cunningham was the Public Information Officer at the Wee Ones program.

Ms. Cunningham was the Public Information Officer at the Wee Ones program. A former corrections officer, she worked for the prison for 31 years.

Ms. John was a CO and set the tone in the Wee Ones unit.

Ms. John was a CO and set the tone in the Wee Ones unit. With 20 years on the job, she learned to be both tough and fair.