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The experience of young children and their incarcerated mothers: A call for humanly-responsive policy

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Résumé

Le projet IMCIPE (les mères incarcérees et leur enfants: L’impact de l’environnement carcéral) étudié divers aspects relatifs aux soins des jeunes enfants (0 à 12 ans). Une étude en 1976 indentifie les enfants de femmes incarcérées comme une minorité négligée. Cette étude indique également les raisons qui expliquent l’ignorance du public à leur égard. Elle indique en outre que le système judiciaire à ses différentes étapes amoindrit les capacités des mères à faire face à leurs responsabilités parentales. La politique britannique concernant les mères incarcérées et leurs enfants ainsi que les trois institutions que les accueillent M.B.U. (Mother and Baby Units) sont discutées. Les recommandations du projet IMCIPE sont énumérées. Vu l’importance de la relation mère-enfant, les législateurs et les practiciens du milieu carcéral doivent prendre en considération les responsabilités parentales des mères détenues et le bien-être de l’enfant

Resumen

El proyecto IMCIPE (madres encarceladas, sus hijos y el impacto de este entorno) estudia vario aspectos relacionados con el cuidado de niños pequeños (0–12 años). Un estudio en 1976 señaló a los hijos de madres encarceladas como una minoría seriamente descuidada. Asimismo, este estudio indica la ignorancia del público en cuanto a la situación de esta minoría. Señala tam bién que el sistema jurídico ha reducido las capacidades de las madres para enfrentar sus responsabilidades maternales. Se debate la política británica en cuanto a las madres encarceladas y sus niños, junto con las tres instituciones que tienen facilidades de madre e hijo. Se presentan las recomendaciones del proyecto IMCIPE. Dada la importancia de la relación entre madre e hijo, los abogadas y todos los que se dedican a este trabajo deberían tener en cuenta la resposabilidad maternal de la madre detenida y el bienestar del hijo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Early Childhood Education Faculty of Education, Queensland University of Technology, Australia

    Ann Farrell

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  1. Ann Farrell
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Farrell, A. The experience of young children and their incarcerated mothers: A call for humanly-responsive policy. IJEC 26, 6–12 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03174254

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