In the Hands of Strangers or Safety

Description

The nurse comes to dinner and tells her friends about a child being apprehended by the state because the mother has given birth while being incarcerated. As a result, the question emerges: Should mothers who have committed a crime and become incarcerated be allowed to be the primary caregivers for their children? Or should children of incarcerated mothers be apprehended? The nurse remains neutral; however, conflict emerges with the other friends as they debate this topic. The Social Worker and Sociologist are against child apprehensions of incarcerated mothers. Their view is that the child should remain with and have a relationship with the mother for the betterment of the child. The Criminologist and Child and Youth Worker are in support of child apprehensions of incarcerated mothers. Their view is that the child would face more harm than good. They look at what crime was committed, its severity and the mental and physical state of the mother.