Chair Brooks-Powers asks about nursery slots and housing pregnant people

Are there enough slots for every birthing person in Department of Correction custody to avail themselves of the nursery?

Yes, absolutely.

And I know you mentioned just now that there was a mother right now in the program.

Is there only one person that...

Either has an infant or that is pregnant right now in custody?

There's currently one mom and an infant in the nursery.

There are other individuals who are pregnant.

And so are they located still in general population?

They are.

Because with my last visit, I raised concerns about that.

And I know Commissioner had mentioned that effective that day, they would be moving those in custody that are pregnant into the nursery for safety reasons.

Hi, my name is Nell Colon.

I'm the Deputy Commissioner of Programs and Community Partnerships, and I was on that visit.

I just want to emphasize that while there is only one individual in the nursery right now with their child, all of the women who are pregnant actually after that visit have been afforded and offered the opportunity to move into the nursery.

It is a voluntary move, but we have been ensuring that the application is presented and that they are given the opportunity to apply, and we currently have an application pending.

So they have to apply to be moved there?

Yes, they do.

Can you explain that to me?

Yes.

So in order to move into the nursery, a screening does occur.

Part of it is with medical and mental health, but notably it also is with the administration of children's services.

So taking into account of any cases of child abuse or neglect that may be indicated by ACS.

And with that, those two pieces of information are then reviewed by the department.

And very often, if cleared, they would be moving into the nursery.

And only one of the pregnant moms have applied and the rest have refused?

Well, the program is voluntary, and we also have a transient population, so we might have had someone who was pregnant last week, and then they might have been released.

And so everyone who is pregnant who is in our care now is offered the application.

Some of the moms chose not to complete the application, and we currently have one pending.

Do we have an idea of why they refused?

I think a lot of times they anticipate being released before giving birth.