Saturday, May 27, 2000
Prison nursery a step closer
Plan would unite inmate mothers with infants
By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS — Legislation that would allow Ohio to establish a prison nursery for infants has unanimously passed the House and is headed for the state Senate.
Rep. Cheryl Winkler, R-Cincinnati, sponsor of the measure, said the legislation was developed at the request of the Ohio Depart ment of Rehabilitation and Correction in cooperation with child welfare advocates.
Prison officials say the goal is to reinforce family ties. The baby can get a good start in life and the baby's mother may find more reasons to stay out of trouble after being released.
Only nonviolent, non-sex-offending prisoners would be permitted in the program, which would accommodate up to 20 mothers and infants in a separate wing of the Ohio Reformatory for Women at Marysville.
The program would be funded by grants, donations and child- support payments.
Such a proposal had been discussed previously, but the case of a Cincinnati-area woman brought it to the fore, prison officials have said.
Sean and Barbara Ann Turner of Madison Place successfully fought prison officials so Mr. Turner could witness the birth of their daughter, Mackenzie Elizabeth, in March 1999.Mrs. Turner, an ex-nurse who was released last month after serving time for prescription drug offenses, has also crusaded for other reforms on behalf of women inmates.
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