Wednesday, July 07, 1999
Jailed mom rejects move
Limits on visits by infant at issue
BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A Mariemont woman who has been crusading for more baby-friendly policies in prisons and jails since the birth of her daughter in March is to be returned to a Columbus prison after turning down a proposal that would have put her in a Hamilton County facility.
On Tuesday, Barbara Ann Turner told Hamilton County Judge Deidra Hair that she would rather stay in prison than be transferred to the River City Correctional Center, a 200-bed rehabilitation center in Camp Washington.
Mrs. Turner made that decision because she was told she would see her breast-feeding infant, Mackenzie Elizabeth, or her other two children less frequently at River City, said her husband, Sean Turner.
Martin Strouse, assistant executive director at River City, said most prisoners are allowed visitors once a week, but it's possible that more frequent visits could have been arranged for someone in a situation like Mrs. Turner's. “We don't have a policy in place that would address this situation,” he said.
A former nurse, Mrs. Turner is in prison for illegally obtaining prescription painkillers for herself. She fought so she could breast-feed her daughter five times a week at the Franklin Pre-Release Center in Columbus since the baby's birth March 28. Before that, she fought so her husband could witness the birth — with the help of Ohio Gov. Bob Taft and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Mr. Turner and other family members have taken turns driving the baby — more than 200 miles, round-trip — to the Columbus prison.
Visits were interrupted by Mrs. Turner's temporary transfer to the Hamilton County Justice Center last week, to allow her to attend Tuesday's hearing. The center doesn't permit the baby to visit, and Mr. Turner said he fears the baby might refuse to return to breast-feeding after her eight-day separation from her mother.
Sgt. John Burke, supervisor of the Cincinnati Police Division's pharmaceutical diversion squad, said his officers believe Mrs. Turner needs to stay in prison.
“She's been through multiple treatment programs,” he said. “There have been so many opportunities for rehabilitation here. Are things different because she has a little baby now?
“... I just think she needs to serve out her sentence.”
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