Motherhood in prison and prison legislation in America: a reading from a complex perspective
Keywords:
Complexity, women, human rightsAbstract
Motherhood in prison refers to situations in which children are raised within penitentiary facilities due to the deprivation of liberty of their mothers. This phenomenon has been examined from multiple disciplinary perspectives in the Americas and worldwide, including psychology, law, anthropology, and sociology. From a complexity-based perspective, this study offers a comparative analysis of the existing regulatory frameworks governing the cohabitation and care of children living with their incarcerated mothers across countries in the American continent, through an exegetical reading of the relevant legal norms, three dimensions are examined: the maximum age at which children are permitted to remain within penitentiary institutions; the legal or regulatory provisions that authorize such permanence; and in a descriptive manner, the conditions or alternatives available in different countries to ensure child care, such as mother–child units, alternative measures, and institutional services, as well as certain dimensions not explicitly addressed by law. The findings reveal significant heterogeneity in how this social issue is addressed within the same continent, along with a lack of consensus regarding child development standards in the region. They also point to an emerging trend toward favoring non-custodial measures for pregnant women and mothers of young children. Based on these findings, the article discusses implications for children’s rights and puts forward concise public policy recommendations aimed at safeguarding narrative framing, mental health, and the reduction of social stigma.
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