Tuesday, March 21, 2000
Prison mom's fight led to major reforms
Support at birth for Ohio inmates has become routine
BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS — A year ago, a “birthing support person” was unheard of in Ohio's prison system.
Barbara Ann Turner holds her daughter Mackenzie, 11 months, during a visit at the Franklin Pre-Release Center.
(Michael E. Keating photo)
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That was before Mackenzie Elizabeth Turner was born.
Mackenzie's father, Sean Turner of Madison Place, had made a request that Ohio prison officials didn't quite know how to handle: He wanted to see his wife, Columbus prison inmate Barbara Ann Turner, give birth at nearby Ohio State University Hospital.
A complex battle ensued, ending with a federal court order allowing Mr. Turner to witness Mackenzie's birth on March 28, 1999.
The process is simpler now.
Under a new policy, a birthing support person — the baby's father or another loved one — may help pregnant prisoners give birth, said Patricia Andrews, warden of Franklin Pre-Release Center, which houses Ohio's pregnant inmates. So far, 13 women have been permitted to do what Mr. Turner had to fight to do a year ago.
Breast pumps used to be considered a security risk, but now they're OK for lactating mothers in prison.
What's more, a prison nursery — which would be one of only a handful in the nation — is being planned, said Reginald Wilkinson, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
The goal, he said, is to reinforce family ties. The baby can get a good start in life — and the baby's mother just might find more reasons to stay straight once she's released from prison, Mr. Wilkinson said.
“Anything we can do to prevent persons from future criminal behavior is our mission,” he said, “and strengthening the family is one of most powerful rehabilitative things we can do.”
Nursery benefits seen
Issues involving women prisoners are gaining urgency nationally, as the number of women behind bars climbs. In two decades, the number of incarcerated women increased about seven-fold, to at least 70,000, according to U.S. Department of Justice 1997 figures.
Mr. Wilkinson said a group of staffers researched prison nurseries in other states, including New York and Nebraska, and became convinced such a facility would be beneficial here.
In New York, the Bedford Hills and Taconic correctional facilities have nurseries. Bedford Hills has operated one since 1901, and currently houses 32 babies. The infants stay there up to a year, and mothers — mostly first-time, non-violent offenders — live with them in private rooms or dormitories, said Linda Foglia, spokeswoman for the New York State Department of Correctional Services.
She said the nursery arrangement leads to stronger family ties, fewer disciplinary problems and better social development for the babies.
Joe Andrews, state corrections spokesman, said prison officials are still working out details of how the nursery would work, including how much time new mothers would spend with their infants, and how long babies would remain in the nursery.
“There are some hurdles we have to go over. One is funding, and the other is legislation,” Mr. Andrews said.
Mr. Wilkinson said he wants legis lation to be drafted and sponsored by year's end. The Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville is the nursery's tentative site, he said.
"I just spoke up'
Although Ohio prison officials had previously discussed policy changes for pregnant prisoners, they say the Turners' situation brought those matters to the fore. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio was involved in the case, as was Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, who urged prison officials to better accommodate pregnant prisoners' families.
The new birthing support policy took effect in January at the prison, which houses 482 inmates, 37 of whom are pregnant.
Several of the prisoners thank Mrs. Turner for the change.
“I don't like to take any credit for myself,” Mrs. Turner, 30, said in an interview at the prison last week. “I just spoke up for what I believe in, and I encourage others to do the same.”
Last year, some inmates scowled at Mrs. Turner and murmured about her. They were resentful because it seemed she got special privileges because she's more educated and from a more privileged background than many prisoners.
An ex-nurse, Mrs. Turner became addicted to painkillers and is serving time for falsifying prescriptions for her own use.
Also, Mrs. Turner's crusade — to make birthing, visitations and breast-feeding easier for prison moms — sometimes grated on prison officials.
“Her time here has not been easy for a number of different reasons, including the fact that she went against the administration and stood up for herself,” said Tammy Riffe, the prison's prenatal coordinator.
But, gradually, other prisoners be gan to see that Mrs. Turner's efforts could help them, too, Ms. Riffe said. Families in the prison's first birthing support class, which formed last summer, sent Mrs. Turner a card. On the front, there's a picture of a baby holding a flower. Inside, it reads: "You didn't have to — but you did. And for that, we all thank you.”
“They were so touched. They realized the impact of what one woman could do,” Ms. Riffe said.
When inmate Jennifer Antha, 24, of Athens gave birth to Avery Justice Fessenden on Feb. 28, the baby's father, Andrew Fessenden, was present for the 13-hour labor and delivery.
A first-time mother, Ms. Antha said she couldn't have imagined giving birth alone except for medical personnel and a prison guard — the typical situation before Mrs. Turner pushed for reform.
“I thank her so much, for her courage, for sharing this motherhood thing with me,” Ms. Antha said.
Another inmate, Stephanie Rosa, 24, is eight months pregnant.
“I'm kind of scared to have my baby here, but there's not really much I can do about it,” said Ms. Rosa, who also has a 7-year-old child. “It's going to tear me up when I have to leave the hospital and come back here to the prison, but at least I know my baby's going to be with its father.”
Inmates who give birth typically stay in the hospital for 24 to 48 hours before being returned to the prison. Ms. Rosa's fiance lives near Cleveland and will have custody of the baby.
While Ms. Rosa said she's happy that the prison will allow her fiance in the delivery room, she sees a need to improve medical care for pregnant prisoners.
She hopes to be freed in Septem ber after serving time for a probation violation and forgery.
Finding "comfort level'
Of the 68 prisoners who gave birth from March through December last year, 18 asked for a birthing support person. Of that number, 12 were able to witness births. One request was denied because it was late; logistical difficulties interfered with four others; and one ended in a miscarriage.
Previously, requests for loved ones to attend births were rare; only two had been granted before the Turners' case, officials said.
“Change isn't always comfortable. A year ago, it wasn't very comfortable for us to do this,” said Ms. Riffe. “Now I think we're developing a comfort level with it. It's available to everyone that comes in."
Ms. Riffe said it's still sad and difficult to see women prisoners separated from their newborns, but she believes the new birthing support policy eases anxiety for some.
Other prisoners, however, give birth without a support person. Some simply don't want one; others have no one who is able or willing to make the trip to the hospital for the birth on short notice, Ms. Riffe said.
Mrs. Turner, who has two other children, said, “My heart aches for a lot of these other women in here.” Many lack the kind of family support she has. Her parents and her husband have taken turns bringing Mackenzie or the other two children, ages 9 and 7, to the prison regularly since her sentence began in October 1998.
Mrs. Turner, who gained an amended sentence in court, is due for release next month.
“As hard as it has been to go through all of this, look at the blessing and opportunity I would've missed if I hadn't,” she said, nuzzling her daughter in a play area of the prison visiting room. “I might be in prison, but I do have the right to give her my love. Shouldn't any mother?”
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