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Holloway Prison |
18 Nov 2009 |
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 New mother and baby unit
Each year 18,000 children are separated from their mothers by imprisonment - withÌýjust over 4,000 women in jail.ÌýÌý Two thirds of them are held on remand, with the majority going on to receive non-custodial sentences.Ìý Of those thatÌýare sentenced, most are jailed for non-violent crimes.ÌýÌý Two years ago, the Labour peer Baroness Corston produced a report for the 91Èȱ¬ Office in which she concluded that existing women's prisons should be closed. ÌýWelcoming the report, the then 91Èȱ¬ Office Minister, Baroness Scotland, concluded that 'vulnerable women who are not a danger to society should not be going to prison'.Ìý But many still are, and they are often the sole carers for their children. In a move to ease the situation,Ìýin nine jails across the UK, a handful of women get to keep their babies with them. These special Mother and Baby Units provide places for children up to either 9 or 18 months. Liz Wallace went to meet the babies, prisoners and staff of Holloway Prison.
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