Mothers of Bedford

Eighty percent of American women in prison are mothers of school-age children. Filmmaker Jenifer McShane explores how programs at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility—a maximum security penitentiary north of New York City—allow inmates to be moms to their kids, even over extended periods of incarceration. Filmed over four years, Mothers of Bedford focuses on five women from diverse backgrounds who have been convicted of crimes ranging from robbery to second-degree murder, serving sentences from two to 15 years. None are career criminals, and viewers will likely empathize as they talk about the actions and decisions that landed them in Bedford (their parents and children also share thoughts on what it's like to have a daughter or mother in prison). Bedford's model program provides classes, a baby nursery, and guidance geared toward teens. Scenes filmed in the Bedford's Children's Center capture weekend visits, and Center founder Sister Elaine Roulet notes that the time served gives some women the opportunity to admit that they weren't “great” mothers and to begin again—an observation borne out here in serious efforts to break cycles of addiction and neglect. It's evident that families are strengthened through these efforts, which makes it particularly distressing to learn that after filming was completed, the program's budget was cut by 40 percent. Offering a thought-provoking and inspirational look at an effective social program, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)