Babies Behind Bars

The Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Westchester County is the largest maximum security women's prison in New York state. The prison opened in 1901 and has hosted many infamous women prisoners (including Kathy Boudin, Jean Harris, Carolyn Warmus, Sante Kimes and Pamela Smart). It is also one of a few women's prisons in the USA that allow pregnant prisoners to keep their newborn babies with them for the first 12 - 18 months of their life. The Bedford Hills nursery has existed in some form since 1901 and was created to help foster a stronger attachment between mother and infant, improve parenting skills and reduce a mother's chances of recidivism.