Bianca Mercer spent six months pregnant behind bars. How the corrections system failed her, and an ad-hoc group of advocates working on the outside changed her life.
The experience of carrying a child while incarcerated is a story of systemic isolation. For many, the lack of adequate prenatal care and the physical constraints of the cell create an environment that jeopardizes both maternal and fetal health.
Advocates argue that the focus should be on rehabilitation and support, yet the reality remains anchored in punitive measures that do not account for the biological needs of pregnancy.