This study explored the perceptions of incarcerated women, housed in prison nursery units in three states, of the effects of the nursery units on their parenting and well-being, as well as their views on the potential long-term effects on their recidivism. In-depth interviews were conducted with nursery-participant women offenders in Illinois, Indiana, and Nebraska in order (1) to learn more about the women’s experience of giving birth to and raising a child in prison; and (2) to understand their perceptions of how this experience might impact their parental and life choices post-release. The interviews revealed that the women believed the mother–child attachment and bonding while in prison influenced their growth and development in a positive way, and enhanced their mothering abilities. The women also indicated that they felt empowered and more effective in their parenting role due to the gender-responsive nursery programs and that program implementation and design impacted their perspective of program effectiveness. The implications for further policy recommendations are discussed.

中文翻译：

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“我现在有一些东西可以活下去”：对监狱托儿所母亲的研究

这项研究探讨了三个州被关押在监狱托儿所的被监禁妇女对托儿所对其育儿和福祉的影响的看法，以及她们对再次犯罪的潜在长期影响的看法。对伊利诺伊州、印第安纳州和内布拉斯加州的托儿所参与的女性罪犯进行了深入访谈，以 (1) 了解更多女性在监狱中生育和抚养孩子的经历；(2) 了解他们对这种经历如何影响他们出狱后的父母和生活选择的看法。访谈显示，这些女性认为在狱中的母子依恋和纽带对她们的成长和发展产生了积极的影响，增强了她们的母爱能力。这些女性还表示，由于性别敏感的托儿所计划，她们在育儿角色中感到更有能力和更有效，并且计划的实施和设计影响了她们对计划有效性的看法。讨论了对进一步政策建议的影响。