Since the prison system had to take care of pregnant inmates, the topic of prison nurseries became controversial and remains so today. Prison nurseries provide accommodation for inmates' newborns and allow inmates to co-reside with their infants for a limited period of time, giving them the opportunity to take part in their development for at least the first few months of their lives. Furthermore, these living arrangements allow them to be the primary caregivers of their children (Byrne, Goshin, & Joestl, 2010). While there are groups that support and promote their existence, there is also a side that worries about the safety risks and responsibilities that come with raising children in a prison environment. Unfortunately, these risks and responsibilities fall too often on newborns, and as you look at the research, it will be clear that prison nurseries end up being more of a punishment for the children than a rehabilitative aid for the mother. It is important to remember that there are several factors to consider when dealing with the topic of prison nurseries. From the medical costs of keeping both mothers and their newborns in prison, to the responsibility of how the prison environment can hinder child development, determining the pros and cons is no easy task. A five-year study of children raised in a prison nursery (Byrne et al., 2010) demonstrated that children can be raised firmly attached to their mothers, even in a prison environment. However, this study also concludes by stating that the development of the attachment relationship is fragile and ongoing. It requires the participation of not only mothers, but also future caregivers. This study also acknowledges that it was limited by the small number... middle of the paper... children should not be punished for their parents' mistakes, and if growing up in a prison daycare is in any way harmful to a child, this is a program we cannot ignore. Works Cited Byrne, M.W., Goshin, L.S., & Joestl, S.S. (2010). Intergenerational transmission of attachment for children raised in a prison nursery. Attachment and Human Development, 12(4), 375-393. doi:10.1080/14616730903417011Carlson, Joseph R. PhD (2001). Prison Nursery 2000. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 33:3, 75-97. doi:10.1300/J076v33n03_05Fearn, N., & Parker, K. (2004). Washington State Residential Parent Program: Integrated public health, education, and social services resource for pregnant inmates and prison mothers. California Journal of Health Promotion, 2, 34-48. Retrieved from http://cjhp.fullerton.edu/Volume2_2004/Issue4/34-48-fearn.pdf