There’s a new family cell plan and it’s not being offered by Verizon, Cingular or any of the other major providers. No, this cell plan places toddlers behind bars so that they can bond with their inmate parents. Family cells are being used in Spain and they are the only ones being used in the world. The units have cribs, Disney characters adorning the walls and access to a playground. The idea is to allow kids and parents to bond before the children truly understand the “reality of prison”. The Spanish prison currently has 32 kids, basically, incarcerated. The units have been around since 1998 and the prison has 36 family cells, with 16 currently occupied.
Critics question the logic of such a program. Parents say that although it’s not ideal they are happier if they can have their family with them. The families wake at dawn and spend the day with their kids who are then taken away at 9 P.M.
Once the kids turn 3, they have to leave and are usually then taken care of by relatives. That is unless the parents are able to have their sentences reduced for good behavior. The cells are strictly for two-parent families. Because the cells are so clean and the prisoners are treated so well, a prison psychologist said that some women actually try to get pregnant before their child turns 3 so that they can stay in the family cell, instead of returning to the general prison population.
I have to side with the critics. I don’t see the logic in this program. I understand the bonding issue but what’s going to happen to the kids when they turn 3 if the parents still have time to serve? You can be sure the kids are going to have separation issues. One critic pointed out that the children will most definitely be affected in the long run. She also noted that the kids won’t see things like animals and trees and they won’t have the normal stimulation needed for healthy growth and development. My opinion is that these babies should not be penalized because their parents made bad decisions. What’s yours?
See also:
Couple Who Caged Their Special Needs Children Get Two Years in Prison