Motherhood
Mother’s Day Rally Letters
A series of letters, poems, and notes written by the children of prisoners. Most are directed to their parents.
Pregnancy in Prison: A Personal Story
by
Kebby Warner
In this poignant personal narrative, Kebby Warner shares her experience of pregnancy and childbirth while serving time. Following her story are several documents she wrote to publicize the organization The People Against Court Kidnapping (P.A.C.K.), which she created after her parental rights were terminated and her daughter was put up for adoption.
The Day My Mother Was Sent Away and Mother’s Day Rally Letters
by
Wenona Thompson
In this poem, Thompson discusses her feelings about her mother’s incarceration.
The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997: Its Impact on Prisoner Mothers and their Children
by
Gail T. Smith
Gail Smith outlines the reasons the ASFA of 1997 is harmful and detrimental to imprisoned women and their children. With most children of prisoners being in ‘temporary’ foster care, the ASFA actually makes these children legal orphans and breaks any ties that imprisoned mothers and their children once had.
Mother’s Day in Chowchilla
by
Sara Olson
Sara Olson tells the story of the Annual “Get On The Bus” event, uniting women prisoners with our children and loved ones.
Children Do Hard Time for Their Parents’ Crime
by
Kim Mikesell
Kim Mikesell tells the price that children pay when parents are incarcerated.
A Different Point of View
by
Rhonda Leland
California Proposition 21, known also as Prop 21, was a proposition proposed and passed in 2000 that increased a variety of criminal penalties for crimes committed by youth and incorporated many youth offenders into the adult criminal justice system.
From Jail to Yale
by
Chesa Boudin
In this first person narrative, Chesa Boudin writes about the fate of children with incarcerated parents and also reflects on the experiences he and a close friend shared growing up with incarcerated parents. While talking about the real life effects of incarceration on family life, Boudin looks at the different paths that he and his childhood friend took in response to their situation.
Cracked Lenses: the Visual Exploitation of Crack Mothers
by
Alexandra Cox
In this article, Alexandra Cox discusses the use of images of “crack mothers” and “crack babies” to reinforce sexism and racism.
Letter to a Formerly Incarcerated Mother
by
Donnie Belcher
This letter of reconciliation expresses the complex experience of having an incarcerated mother. Belcher describes both the anger of growing up with her mother in prison and the love that transcends that anger.
Pregnant, in Prison and Denied Care
by
Rachel Roth
“But what happens to pregnant women in prison before they wind up in chains at a hospital?” asks Rachel Roth. Roth tells three chilling stories of medical neglect and lack of compassion for women awaiting childbirth behind the prison walls.
Do I Have to Stand for This?
by
Kimberly Burke
Kimberly Burke, a mother in prison tells a story of an interaction while her 7-year old son is visiting What convinces him to not want to come back. She uses her experience to talk about the large numbers of prisoners that never get a visitor. The enemy lines between prisoners and guards create a kind of hostile environment in which no one wants to be apart of.
Children of Prisoners, Personal Narrative, Poetry