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7 in 10
women in prison
are mothers
85%
of imprisoned mothers in Aotearoa are primary caregivers
50%
of mothers in prison have not been convicted
Why?
Just because a mother has committed a crime, doesn’t mean she’s not a good mother.
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We believe around 85% of imprisoned women in Aotearoa are mothers. Many are single mums and some were the sole caregiver for their children before going to prison. Even if they haven’t yet been convicted or sentenced, mothers can be away from their children for months, sometimes longer.
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Good relationships between mothers and their children, even when they’re separated by prison walls, can benefit child wellbeing, and reduce parent reoffending which is why the team at Mothers Project does whatever it can to try and support imprisoned mothers stay connected with their children.
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Volunteer lawyers who are trained and coordinated by Mothers Project, visit every women’s prison in New Zealand every month offering their services pro-bono to help mothers understand their responsibilities and rights regarding their children.
How It Works
Our volunteers visit every women's prison in New Zealand each month to help imprisoned mothers understand their responsibilities and rights regarding their children.
Volunteers make calls to Oranga Tamariki (the Ministry for Children), family members, caregivers, schools and legal aid lawyers, to open communicate lines and arrange prison calls and visits with children as appropriate.
Our volunteers update the mothers they meet with so they understand where their children are and who is taking care of them.
We also offer a Storybook Programme - where mothers can pick and read a story aloud. Our volunteers send the recording and book out to the children so they can hear their mother read them a story.
