Film Overview

Christina, Trisha and Kristin are pregnant inmates facing years behind bars in an Oregon prison. Tangerine has already been through it. These four women share their very personal details of pregnancy, incarceration and delivery as they struggle with the uncertain future of their newborns. The search for safe and healthy homes for their babies is agonizing as one plan after another falls apart. When it comes to placing their children, pregnant inmates have few options; foster care, family members or adoption. Only a small number of states have prison nurseries where inmates can keep their newborns with them. This documentary visits the nursery at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York where Dr. Mary Byrne of Columbia University conducted the first-ever research study on the development of babies during their first year of life in a prison environment. As the number of women in prison continues to rise, Dr. Byrne’s findings will have a big impact on the future of other states considering prison nurseries in their women’s facilities.