(BOP) - On Friday, January 23, 2015, MDC Brooklyn held an overnight visit for several female offenders and their children, and grandchildren. The "Mother-Child Night of Hopes and Dreams" was held in the institution visiting room that staff and inmates decorated in a child-friendly fashion. A large cardboard train and life-sized drawings of popular characters adorned the walls. A number of community organizations participated in the event and helped provide fun activities for the mothers and children. For some of the children it was the first night they spent with their mother in months or even years; they expressed their appreciation to the staff for creating special childhood memories.
Eight children, ages 5 – 11, spent the evening coloring, dancing, playing games, and watching movies. The women performed an interactive puppet show where they celebrated all the birthdays and holidays they have missed during their incarceration. After a bedtime story, the women slept in cots next to the children. The Bureau of Prisons recognizes that supporting positive connections between children and their incarcerated parents facilitates reentry, improves the lives of the children and strengthens our communities. We continuously seek opportunities to strengthen family ties through events and innovative programs for parents in our custody.