Mothers of children aged under five should only be imprisoned if they pose a risk to society.
According to Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green, the Children's Commissioner for England, who has been investigating the issue of mums in prison, 18,000 children are separated from their mothers every year in this way.
'Nobody in their right mind would think it is in a child's best interest to be born in prison or spend their early years there,' says Professor Aynsley-Green. 'There is a societal issue at stake about the best way to deal with women offenders. There is a need to achieve a balance between the use of prison to address crime and keep society safe and, on the other hand, to do whatever is best for highly vulnerable women in view of their role in bringing up the next generation.'
The children of jailed mothers are three times more likely to display antisocial behaviour and are more likely to serve prison time themselves.
Only five per cent of mothers given jail sentences will see their children remain in the mother's home after beginning their sentence. Sometimes fathers are able to care for the children, but often the children will end up being adopted or going into care.
February 2008
Back To Our Main News Section
Look At Other News Snippets Here | 
Sperm Damage Passed Down Generations
