Missouri Department of Corrections unveiled a new prison nursery program in Vandalia, aimed at helping pregnant incarcerated women. Tara Carroll, who gave birth while serving a 22-year sentence, is now one of the caregivers selected for the program. The nursery, the 10th of its kind in the country, is separate from the main prison community and offers a more nurturing environment for the women and their babies. The program, brought to life by advocate Liza Weiss, has received bipartisan support and aims to keep mothers and babies together to reduce depression and anxiety in children born to incarcerated mothers.
The program includes a year of support after the woman is released from prison, including job preparation and housing assistance. The women eligible for the program cannot have a history of violent sexual crimes or crimes against children, and they must have less than 18 months left on their sentence. The nursery program has already sparked interest from other states, such as North Dakota, Idaho, and Arkansas, looking to establish similar programs. The funding for the program will be evaluated annually, with the Department of Corrections requesting $837,000 for the 2026 fiscal year. The program has the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of incarcerated mothers and their children.
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