In this episode, Barbara Frey is joined by Doctor Martha Paynter, the Director of Nursing Research with the Contraceptive and Abortion Research Team at the University of British Columbia and Assistant Professor in Nursing at the University of New Brunswick. Dr. Paynter draws from her research, which focuses on the intersection of reproductive health and the carceral system, to provide a comprehensive overview of incarceration in Canada, particularly the hyper-incarceration of Indigenous women. She describes the demographics of incarcerated mothers and examines the criteria and operation of the Mother-Child Program. Throughout the episode, Dr. Paynter calls attention to the program’s deficiencies, such as the burdens it places on incarcerated mothers, the lack of institutional evaluation and data collection, and the limited alternatives available. Ultimately, she challenges the current model of placing babies in prison with their mothers and calls for a more critical examination of the Mother-Child Program’s use, advocating instead for community-based alternatives to incarceration.
Children of Incarcerated Caregiver (“CIC”) is a nonprofit organization whose central mission is to research, identify, and implement solutions to enhance the lives of children affected by a parent’s incarceration. We strive to provide the latest and most accurate information regarding children affected by a parent’s incarceration. However, the podcasts posted on this website contain information that was presented as of the date each podcast was recorded. The information contained in any posted podcast may become outdated based on developments after recording. Some information contained in the podcasts is provided by third parties (such as interviewees), and CIC cannot and does not make any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. CIC disclaims any liability related to the content of the podcasts posted to this website, other content presented on this website, and any CIC social media account.