Joining Incarcerated Mothers with Their Children: Evaluation of the Lancaster Visiting Cottage Program

This report presents the results of a process evaluation of the first year of the Lancaster Visiting Cottage Program, a program developed by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections to provide overnight visits between children and their incarcerated mothers. Chapter I provides an introduction to the report. Chapter II reviews the literature on incarcerated mothers and their children and gives an overview of programs presently in operation in other states for this population. As background for the description of the Visiting Cottage Program, chapter III briefly describes other Department of Corrections programs for incarcerated mothers. Chapter IV presents the research methodology used in the evaluation, examines the frequency and use of the program, and describes the program's first-year applicants. The time and effects of separation on incarcerated mothers and their children is discussed in chapter V. Chapter VI contains 10 sections, each highlighting salient issues or findings of the study. Sections focus on: (1) feedback on the program's daily operation; (2) participation/non-participation; (3) security and disciplinary issues; (4) program staffing; (5) quality of visits; (6) inmates and mothers; (7) impact on Lancaster staff; (8) comparison of long-term versus short-term inmate mothers; (9) utilization of treatment services; and (10) interagency model. Chapter VII presents the progress made by the program toward the achievement of its goals. Chapter VIII provides a summary of the findings and recommendations for the future. (NB)