The Topeka Correctional Facility has the potential to accommodate a nursery center if new legislation receives approval, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
The proposed plan aims to establish a nursery center at the state’s sole women’s prison in Topeka. This initiative focuses on providing support and care for mothers who give birth while serving their sentences.
The proposed initiative aims to create a correctional center nursery within the premises of Topeka Correctional Facility. This would enable eligible inmates to reside with their newborns for a maximum period of 36 months following the child’s birth.
“When the baby requires nursing, both the mother and the baby must fulfill that need,” emphasized Sen. Kristen O’Shea, R-Topeka, as she advocated for the introduction of the bill. “It’s a natural and essential connection. The core of this issue lies in the fact that the baby relies on the mother, and the mother relies on the baby.”
According to O’Shea, out of the 800 women who entered the Topeka Correctional Facility last year, 10 of them were pregnant. O’Shea emphasized the limited time these mothers had with their children, typically spending only 24 to 48 hours with them before being returned to the correctional facility.
In one instance, O’Shea shared a heart-wrenching story where a mother had spent a mere 24 hours with her child before the baby was whisked away to Pennsylvania to be with the grandparents. The mother was left with no choice but to communicate with her son through Zoom for several months until her release date arrived.
“As a regular mother, she visits the hospital, gives birth, and spends two days there with her newborn,” O’Shea explained. “Afterward, they go their separate paths.”
To qualify for the program, individuals must have given birth to a child while serving their sentence or while in custody. Additionally, they must have 36 months or less remaining on their sentence and meet other criteria determined by state corrections officials. However, incarcerated mothers with current or past convictions of certain violent or dangerous crimes will be automatically disqualified.
Prison nursery programs are gaining popularity in several states due to their proven ability to reduce recidivism rates. In 2022, Missouri implemented similar legislation to support these programs.
Gloria Geither, the former warden of the Topeka Correctional Facility and current deputy secretary of Facility Management for the Kansas Department of Corrections, expressed her support for the idea.
Geither expressed his support for the plan, stating that KDOC is fully behind it and is committed to constructing a new unit specifically for this purpose. Furthermore, they will also be increasing the staffing levels at the facility.
According to KDOC, the nursery’s design, construction, and furnishing are projected to cost $2.7 million in fiscal year 2025. The facility will be equipped with individual rooms, a kitchenette for meal preparation, a common space for activities, and an outdoor playground, among other amenities. To ensure smooth operations, the program will require approximately 19 staff members.
Abriona Markham, executive director of the Topeka Doula Project, expressed that when incarcerated mothers are given the opportunity to be involved in their children’s lives, it has a positive impact on reducing recidivism rates.
According to Markham, every conversation consistently leads to the same realization: these mothers have a strong desire and necessity to be actively involved in their babies’ lives.
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