Incarcerated mothers: Should part of the punishment eliminate communication with children?“When my mother was sentenced, I felt condemned. She was sentenced to prison, far from her children and family. As a child I was condemned to be without my mother. This quote is part of the story of a young woman's struggle against her mother in prison. Separation from children is an issue that many incarcerated women face. However, it won't just be mothers who will suffer; we must also consider the children of these women. Children are often left to deal with many emotions ranging from anxiety to feelings of abandonment. If part of the punishment includes no communication with the children, who is really being punished, the mother or the child? Mothers in prison, with obvious limitations and restrictions, can still have a positive effect on their children. This can only happen if lines of communication can be maintained. A baby needs contact with its mother to keep the bond strong. When communication can be maintained, families can benefit by helping incarcerated mothers and their children cope with separation, providing incentives for mothers to become better parents, and easing the transition into family and society once released. The stress factor for women in prison is the distance from their children. Female prisoners are more likely than incarcerated fathers to worry about their children's living conditions while serving their sentences. Women are usually the primary caregivers for their children before they enter the system, making the strain of separation difficult. By being able to communicate with each other, the mother and baby are able to learn how to cope with the situation while the outside world becomes easier. Some children's lives are improved when they no longer communicate with their mothers while in detention. However, we should examine each case and keep the child's best interest in mind. BIBLIOGRAPHY Impact of parental incarceration. (2003). Prisoners' Children's Library (CPL 301). Adalist-Estrin, A. (ND). Why maintain relationships? Prisoners' Children's Library (CPL 102). Banks, C. (2003). Women in prison: a reference manual. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc.Bernstein, N. (2005). All alone in the world: children of prisoners. New York, New York, USA: The New Press.Block, K. J. (1998). Girl scouts beyond bars: Facilitating parent-child contact in correctional settings. Child Welfare, 77(5). Hariston, C. (1998). Family ties during incarceration: Do they influence future criminal activity? Federal test, 52.