The Correctional Centre Nursery at South Camp Adult Correctional Centre provides a unique, bi-generational intervention within the Jamaican correctional system. This initiative allows incarcerated women to care for their infant children in a structured, secure environment, promoting maternal rehabilitation while fostering secure attachment and child development.
This living arrangement permits an imprisoned mother to co-reside with her infant, acting as the child’s primary caregiver during part or all of her sentence. The main aim is twofold:
To support the rehabilitation of incarcerated mothers
To enable physical closeness and emotional bonding essential for the healthy development of infants
This model aligns with global best practices in correctional maternal care, and reflects the Government of Jamaica’s commitment to modernising the correctional system through rehabilitative and humane approaches.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Department of Correctional Services’ (DCS) first Infant Nursery was held on April 17, 2024, by the Honourable Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, State Minister in the Ministry of National Security. The facility was completed in five months and officially opened on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at the South Camp Adult Correctional Centre in Kingston.
Constructed at a cost of over $13 million, the nursery includes:
Three fully furnished rooms (with cribs, beds, toys, and feeding chairs)
A general wash area with a changing table, shower, and bathroom facilities
Wheelchair-accessible ramps for increased mobility and inclusion
This initiative is a key step in Jamaica’s ongoing efforts to modernise rehabilitation services, particularly for vulnerable groups within correctional institutions.
Improved maternal mental health: Lower rates of postpartum depression, anxiety, and trauma
Parenting education: Access to classes and support groups on infant care and child development
Reduced recidivism: Secure maternal attachments contribute to more positive outcomes post-release
Secure emotional bonds: Continuous presence of the mother fosters secure attachment
Cognitive and behavioural development: Infants benefit from the emotional stability needed to support early development and reduce developmental delays
The South Camp Correctional Centre Infant Nursery represents a transformative model of care within the Jamaican penal system. By nurturing both mother and child, the Department of Correctional Services reinforces its mission to promote rehabilitation, dignity, and reintegration—offering a second chance not just for offenders, but for future generations.
