>> Sreenivasan: WHEN A PREGNANT
WOMAN GOES TO PRISON, MOST OFTEN
SHE HAS TO GIVE UP HER BABY TO A
RELATIVE OR ANOTHER CAREGIVER
UNTIL SHE FINISHES SERVING HER
SENTENCE.
TONIGHT, IN THE FIRST OF A TWO-
PART REPORT ABOUT CHILDREN WHOSE
PARENTS ARE INCARCERATED,
NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S MEGAN
THOMPSON HAS THE STORY OF AN
INNOVATIVE PRISON PROGRAM THAT
ALLOWS MOTHER AND CHILD TO STAY
TOGETHER BEHIND BARS.
>> Reporter: BRENDA SINGER IS
SERVING TWO YEARS AT THE INDIANA
WOMEN'S PRISON IN INDIANAPOLIS
FOR OPIOID POSSESSION AND
FAILING TO SHOW UP AT A WORK
RELEASE PROGRAM.
WHEN SHE ARRIVED HERE IN
JANUARY, SHE WAS ALMOST NINE
MONTHS PREGNANT.
IT MEANT SHE'D GIVE BIRTH BEHIND
BARS AND POSSIBLY BE SEPARATED
FROM HER BABY JUST HOURS LATER.
>> I WAS SCARED.
I WAS REALLY WORRIED.
I WOULD HAVE HAD A LITTLE UNDER
24 HOURS WITH HER.
BUT THAT'S... THAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN JUST, LIKE, HAVING HER AND
PUSHING HER AWAY.
>> Reporter: BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT
HAPPENED.
TWO WEEKS AFTER GETTING HERE,
SINGER GAVE BIRTH TO HER
DAUGHTER, DORIS.
LITTLE DORIS NOW LIVES HERE IN
THE PRISON WITH HER MOTHER, IN A
SPECIAL UNIT CALLED THE "WEE
ONES' NURSERY."
>> SHE'S AMAZING.
FIRST SMILE BREAKS YOUR HEART.
(\LAUGHS\)
JUST MELT, YOU KNOW?
>> Reporter: AND YOU GOT TO SEE
IT.
>> YEAH.
THANKS TO WEE ONES.
>> SO, TODAY, DORIS HAS AN
APPOINTMENT AT 9:00 A.M.
>> OKAY.
>> I JUST WANT TO GO OVER
EVERYTHING.
>> Reporter: LEAH HESSION IS THE
NURSERY'S DIRECTOR.
>> WEE ONES WAS STARTED IN APRIL
OF 2008 AS A WAY FOR PREGNANT
LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS TO BE ABLE
TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN AFTER... 
AFTER DELIVERY WHILE THE
MOTHER'S STILL INCARCERATED.
>> Reporter: THE UNITED STATES
PUTS MORE FEMALES IN PRISON THAN
ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD,
AND THE MAJORITY OF INCARCERATED
WOMEN ARE MOTHERS.
BUT PRISON NURSERIES ARE RARE;
THERE ARE ONLY EIGHT IN THE
COUNTRY.
FOR SOME PEOPLE WATCHING THIS,
IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT
SURPRISING TO SEE BABIES IN A
PRISON.
IS IT GOOD FOR A BABY TO BE
LIVING IN A PRISON?
>> I THINK SO.
THESE ARE INFANTS.
THESE ARE BABIES WHO ARE MONTHS
OLD, WHO JUST WANT TO BE HELD
AND NURSED AND LOVED BY THEIR
MOTHERS.
AND... AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
ABLE TO PROVIDE IN A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT.
>> Reporter: THE NURSERY IS
HOUSED IN ITS OWN DORMITORY,
WHERE MOTHERS LIVE SEPARATED
FROM THE NEARLY 600 OTHER
PRISONERS.
>> SO, THIS IS ONE OF OUR
MOTHER'S ROOMS.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IT ONLY HAS
ONE BED.
A TYPICAL OFFENDER ROOM'S GOING
TO HAVE A BUNK BED, SO IT'LL BE
TWO OFFENDERS TO A ROOM.
WITH OUR MOTHER'S ROOM, WE ONLY
HAVE ONE BED AND ROOM FOR THE
CRIB, SO IT GIVES THE MOTHER AND
CHILD TIME TO BOND.
>> Reporter: WHEN WE VISITED,
THERE WERE FOUR BABIES IN THE
NURSERY.
THERE'S ROOM FOR UP TO TEN.
PREGNANT PRISONERS CAN LIVE
HERE, TOO.
>> OVER HERE, THIS IS ALSO A
NURSERY.
THIS NURSERY DOES HAVE A
TELEVISION IN IT.
IT'S GOT TWO OF THE ELECTRIC
SWINGS, SO IT'S A LITTLE MORE...
LITTLE MORE POPULAR.
BUT THIS HERE IS OUR SUPPLY
CLOSET.
>> Reporter: OFFICIALS SAY THE
WEE ONES' NURSERY IS FUNDED
ENTIRELY BY PRIVATE DONATIONS
AND GRANTS, INCLUDING ALL THE
DIAPERS AND WIPES.
>> WE HAVE TWO CLOSETS.
WE HAVE A BOYS' CLOSET AND A
GIRLS' CLOSET.
>> Reporter: SAME GOES FOR THE
BABY CLOTHES.
MOST OF THEM ARE DONATED AND
THEN REUSED.
>> THE MOTHERS ARE ABLE TO COME
AND EXCHANGE CLOTHES EVERY OTHER
WEEK JUST AS THEIR CHILD GROWS
SO MUCH IN THE FIRST YEAR.
>> LUNCH!
>> Reporter: TO LIVE HERE, WOMEN
MUST BE LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS WITH
ZERO HISTORY OF VIOLENCE.
AND THEIR SENTENCES MUST BE
RELATIVELY SHORT SO THEY'LL BE
RELEASED BY THE TIME THEIR CHILD
TURNS TWO.
>> I GOT SOME WOMEN WHO NEED TO
GO...
>> Reporter: THE STAKES ARE
HIGH.
IF THEY BREAK THE RULES, THEY
COULD GET KICKED OUT.
>> WE HAVE EXPECTATIONS FROM
ROOM INSPECTIONS TO CLASSES AND
THINGS LIKE THAT THAT SHE MUST
COMPLETE.
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A POSITIVE
ATTITUDE AND A WILLINGNESS TO
CHANGE HER LIFE.
>> I HATE BEING ON DRUGS.
I HATE THAT LIFE.
BUT I CAN'T LET IT HOLD ON TO ME
BECAUSE I'M READY TO MOVE
FORWARD.
I'M READY TO BE A BETTER PERSON.
I'M READY TO BE A BETTER MOM
MORE THAN ANYTHING.
WHAT IS THAT?
>> Reporter: 28-YEAR-OLD JAMIE
BEAM HAS BATTLED ADDICTION SINCE
SHE WAS 14 YEARS OLD.
SHE SAYS HER DRUG OF CHOICE IS
METHAMPHETAMINE.
SHE WAS CONVICTED LAST YEAR OF
BURGLARY AND OF ILLEGAL
POSSESSION OF A FIREARM.
WHEN SHE WAS LOCKED UP LAST
SUMMER, SHE WAS ABOUT FIVE
MONTHS PREGNANT.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WOULD
BE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN,
WHO... WHO SHE'D BE WITH.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS, AND I
WAS VERY SCARED.
THERE YOU GO.
ALL BETTER NOW.
>> Reporter: KHLOE WAS BORN IN
DECEMBER.
>> SHE IS SUCH A HAPPY BABY.
SHE'S FULL OF SMILES.
JUST VERY HAPPY.
AND I'M SO GLAD THAT I DIDN'T
HAVE TO MISS OUT ON THAT.
>> Reporter: BEAM HAS RAISED TWO
OTHER YOUNG DAUGHTERS WHO ARE
NOW LIVING WITH THEIR DAD IN
MICHIGAN.
>> IT'S OKAY.
(\LAUGHS\)
>> Reporter: IN HERE, SOBER,
BEAM FEELS SHE'S ABLE TO FOCUS
MORE ON KHLOE THAN SHE WAS WITH
HER OTHER CHILDREN.
>> OH, I DO, BUNNY, BUNNY,
BUNNY.
I NOTICE A LOT MORE PARENTING,
YOU KNOW, THINGS THAN I DID WITH
MY OTHER GIRLS JUST BECAUSE
BEING ON THE... THE OUTSIDE,
THERE'S DISTRACTIONS.
THERE'S COMING AND GOING, YOU
KNOW, VERSUS ME AND KHLOE WHERE
IT'S JUST, LIKE, ONE ON ONE, ALL
THE TIME, EVERY DAY.
YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO SHOW HER
SHE'S GOT A MOM WHO LOVES HER
AND IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF HER
AND BE THERE FOR HER.
I... I DON'T KNOW IF LATER IN
THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, IF WE
DIDN'T HAVE THIS BOND, WHERE OUR
RELATIONSHIP WOULD BE.
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S...
THAT BOND IS GOING TO BE HOW HER
WHOLE LIFE MIGHT TURN OUT.
SOUNDS CRAZY, BUT, YEAH.
>> Reporter: ANGELA TOMLIN SAYS
THAT'S NOT CRAZY AT ALL.
SHE'S A PSYCHOLOGIST AND EXPERT
IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
AT THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
OF MEDICINE.
>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
KIDS TO HAVE THAT EARLY
ATTACHMENT TO THEIR PARENTS.
>> Reporter: TOMLIN NOTES THAT
THE BRAINS OF INFANTS ARE STILL
DEVELOPING, AND BABIES NEED
CERTAIN SOCIAL EXPERIENCES TO
HELP THEIR BRAINS FORM.
>> AND THAT SOCIAL EXPERIENCE
THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARENT.
SO, WE NEED, OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, DAY TO DAY, MOMENT-BY-
MOMENT EXPERIENCES OF HAVING
THE PARENT SEE THE BABY,
UNDERSTAND THE BABY'S NEED AND
FULFILL IT OVER TIME.
AND WHAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT
HAPPENS THROUGH THAT PROCESS IS
THAT THE CHILD COMES TO KNOW IN,
LIKE, A REAL WAY THAT THEY ARE
PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND PHYSICALLY
SAFE.
AND THAT SENSE OF SAFETY OR
TRUST IS WHAT WE THINK OF WHEN
WE THINK OF AS A SECURE
ATTACHMENT.
THAT SECURE ATTACHMENT HAS SO
MANY BENEFITS DOWN THE ROAD--
DOING WELL IN SCHOOL, GETTING
ALONG WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND
REALLY GROWING UP TO BE A
SENSITIVE PARENT THEMSELVES.
>> Reporter: RESEARCHERS AT
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY COMPARED
BABIES WHO LIVED IN PRISON
NURSERIES TO THOSE RAISED BY
MOTHERS OUTSIDE WITH SIMILAR
RISK FACTORS LIKE DRUG
ADDICTION.
THEY FOUND THAT A LARGER NUMBER
OF THE PRISON-NURSERY BABIES
DEVELOPED SECURE ATTACHMENTS.
ANOTHER COLUMBIA STUDY FOUND
THESE CHILDREN WERE LESS ANXIOUS
AND LESS DEPRESSED ONCE THEY GOT
TO PRESCHOOL COMPARED TO BABIES
WHO'D BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR
INCARCERATED MOMS.
AND MOST CHILDREN ARE SEPARATED.
ALL THE MOMS IN THE WEE ONES'
NURSERY AND OF MOST THE OTHER
INMATES HERE HAVE OLDER KIDS
THEY HAD TO LEAVE BEHIND.
>> ANY TIME A CHILD IS SEPARATED
FROM THEIR PARENT, THAT HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO BE EXPERIENCED AS A
TRAUMA.
>> Reporter: TOMLIN SAYS IT CAN
BE ESPECIALLY TRAUMATIC FOR
CHILDREN WHEN A MOTHER GOES TO
PRISON BECAUSE SHE'S USUALLY THE
PRIMARY CAREGIVER.
>> SO, IF DAD GOES TO PRISON,
MOM OFTEN IS STILL THERE FOR THE
CHILD.
WHEN MOM GOES TO PRISON, A LOT
OF TIMES IT'S NOT THE DAD WHO'S
AVAILABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE
CHILD.
IT MAY BE ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER.
THE CHILD MAY BE IN A FOSTER
CARE SITUATION.
>> Reporter: WHILE KIDS CAN
DEVELOP SECURE ATTACHMENTS TO
OTHER CAREGIVERS, LIKE
GRANDPARENTS, REGULAR VISITS TO
THEIR MOTHERS IN PRISON CAN
HELP, TOO.
>> EVERY TIME HE COMES DOWN
HERE, THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS, IS
THE DINOSAURS.
>> Reporter: THE INDIANA WOMEN'S
PRISON "FAMILY PRESERVATION
PROGRAM" HAS A HUGE PLAY AREA
WHERE VISITING KIDS CAN RUN
FREE.
>> I PERSONALLY PRETTY MUCH JUST
PRETEND LIKE IT'S HOME.
>> Reporter: JESSICA INHOLT
DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE WEE ONE''
NURSERY BECAUSE HER SENTENCE FOR
DEALING HEROIN WAS TOO LONG.
BUT HER MOM FAITHFULLY BRINGS
HER TWO-YEAR-OLD SON, TRIPP, TO
VISIT EVERY WEEKEND.
>> YOU KNOW, I SET SNACKS OUT
FOR HIM AND MAKE SURE HE'S NOT
GOING TO HURT HIMSELF PLAYING
AROUND.
BEING A FIRST-TIME MOM AND BEING
IN PRISON, I JUST TRY AND DO THE
BEST THAT I CAN TO LEARN HOW TO
BE A MOM WHILE I'M HERE, SO...
>> Reporter: PLAY ROOMS LIKE
THIS ONE GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS
HELPING MOMS DEVELOP AND
MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH
THEIR CHILDREN, SAYS ANGELA
TOMLIN, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO
TYPICAL PRISON VISITING ROOMS
WHERE PRISONERS OFTEN CAN'T HOLD
THEIR CHILDREN OR EVEN MIGHT BE
SITTING BEHIND GLASS.
>> THE CHILD NEEDS TO SEE THE
PARENT AS A CAREGIVER.
SO, WE NEED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE
THE CHILD CAN BEHAVE IN A
TYPICAL WAY, AND THE PARENT CAN
HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO
THE CHILD IN A TYPICAL WAY.
>> HI, BABY!
>> Reporter: BACK IN THE WEE
ONES' NURSERY BRENDA SINGER
STAYS IN TOUCH WITH HER FIVE
OTHER CHILDREN WITH PHONE CALLS.
MOST OF THEM LIVE IN OHIO, TOO
FAR AWAY FOR REGULAR VISITS.
>> AW, YOU GOT A BELLY ACHE?
>> Reporter: SINGER, WHO'S BEEN
INCARCERATED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES
BEFORE, TRIES TO CALL EVERY DAY.
>> I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER.
I DO WORRY ABOUT THEM HAVING
TRUST WITH ME.
MY OLDEST DAUGHTERS, I HAD QUITE
A BIT OF CONFRONTATION WITH THEM
BECAUSE THEY JUST FELT LIKE, YOU
KNOW, "WE'RE TIRED, MOM.
SO, EITHER GET IT RIGHT THIS
TIME OR, YOU KNOW, LIKE, YOU
KNOW, I... YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
BE MY MOM," PRETTY MUCH IS HOW I
GOT IT.
SO, IT HURTS THEM.
YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DO WE DO THE
TIME, BUT THEY DO.
SO, WE LET THEM DOWN.
 I LET THEM DOWN, I SHOULD SAY.
>> Reporter: DOING TIME IN THE
NURSERY IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE MOMS
THE CHANCE TO TURN THINGS
AROUND, AND PROPONENTS OF THIS
THIS PROGRAM SAY IT CAN HELP
MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
A 2013 STUDY BY THE UNIVERSITY
OF INDIANAPOLIS FOLLOWED WOMEN
WHO SPENT TIME IN THE WEE ONES'
NURSERY.
COMPARED TO WOMEN SEPARATED FROM
THEIR BABIES, THEY WERE ABOUT
HALF AS LIKELY TO RETURN TO
PRISON WITHIN THEIR FIRST YEAR
OF RELEASE.
TO MAKE SURE THE NEW MOMS CAN GO
TO THERAPY AND CLASSES, THERE'S
CHILDCARE PROVIDED BY OTHER,
LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS WHO LIVE ON
THE UNIT, TOO.
WHILE HER BABY'S LOOKED AFTER,
JAMIE BEAM ATTENDS A COCAINE
ANONYMOUS GROUP, A 12-STEP
PROGRAM AND CULINARY ARTS
CLASSES.
THE PRISON ALSO OFFERS PRENATAL,
POSTNATAL AND PARENTING CLASSES.
>> BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IF I
WEREN'T TO BE WITH HER, I'D
PROBABLY NOT BE ABLE TO WORK ON
MYSELF AS QUICK AS I HAVE BEEN,
JUST BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I WOULD
BE MISSING A VERY IMPORTANT TIME
OF KHLOE'S LIFE.
>> Reporter: BRENDA SINGER IS
GOING THROUGH A REHABILITATION
PROGRAM HERE, TOO.
YOU'VE BEEN INCARCERATED BEFORE.
>> RIGHT.
>> Reporter: IS THERE SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS TIME, THIS PLACE,
THIS STAY THAT MEANS YOU'RE
GOING TO TURN IT AROUND?
>> OH, YEAH.
I MISSED A LOT.
I'M GOING TO MISS MY GRANDSON'S
BIRTH, AND THAT TEARS ME UP.
BUT I MADE THOSE CHOICES.
SO, IF THIS WASN'T A SMACK IN
THE FACE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
WOULD BE.
>> Reporter: WHEN DORIS IS
OLDER, WHEN SHE'S GROWN UP, WHAT
ARE YOU GOING TO TELL HER ABOUT
THIS CHAPTER OF HER LIFE?
>> THAT MOM... MOM LEARNED A LOT
JUST BY HAVING HER WITH ME.
SHE'S MY COACH.
AS I CALL HER, SHE'S MY BOSS
RIGHT NOW.
AND IT'S... IT'S GREAT BECAUSE I
NEED THAT.
I NEED THAT MENTALLY, TO BE
FIXATED ON WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S NOT ABOUT THE DRUGS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT PILLS OR, YOU
KNOW, ROLLING THE NEXT BLUNT OR
DRINKING MY NEXT DRINK.
IT'S ABOUT DORIS AT THE END OF
THE DAY AND ALL DAY.
IT'S ABOUT HER.
SO, I THINK THAT'S MENTALLY
MAKING ME FIT, YOU KNOW, FOR...
FOR THE OUTSIDE.
