I must share a deeply personal and heart-wrenching experience. My daughter is currently in jail, and every time we visit her, I see the immense joy in my four-year-old granddaughter's eyes. However, this joy turns to sheer agony when it's time for us to leave. She screams like an animal in pain, desperate for her mother.

This experience has shown me firsthand the profound impact that a mother's incarceration has on her children for the reason I have decided to start a movement for the children. The pain, alienation, and suffering experienced by these children are evident in their eyes. Mothers are natural caregivers, essential to their children’s well-being. Even in the animal kingdom, the role of a mother is crucial—she nurtures, loves, guides, and protects her offspring from a corrupt world. For children, being separated from their mothers due to imprisonment is deeply traumatizing and hard to understand.

There is no justification for separating first-time, nonviolent mothers from their children as a form of punishment. This approach does not just punish the mother; it punishes the children as well. During these challenging times, preserving family unity is more critical than ever. We have only one chance to get it right, and we must prioritize saving families.

Unlike many men, who might find contentment with a television, gym, and three meals a day, women have different needs. They are the heart of their homes, instilling good values and providing stability. This is why women, who bring children into the world, play an indispensable role in their upbringing. I am not being sexist, but it is essential to understand the unique importance of a mother in the home.

Women are natural caregivers, constantly concerned about their children's well-bein. Women in prison suffer deeply from the separation from their children and it destroys entire families.

Our prison system fails to recognize and cater to the unique needs of incarcerated mothers. The mental and emotional toll on both the mothers and their children is immense and often disregarded. These women worry incessantly about their children, and the lack of psychological support to address the trauma of this separation is a significant oversight.

We stand up for many causes, but this critical issue has been overlooked. Furthermore, women in prisons face abuse, humiliation, and sexual violence, which only serves to destroy families. Non-violent, first-time offenders, especially mothers, should be given a true second chance to be with their families.

The judiciary must stop discriminating against women during sentencing. My experience has shown me that the judicial system is riddled with abuse, bias, and fear. Judges often act with impunity, forgetting that they hold immense power over lives and families. It’s time to hold them accountable and demand family-first policies that prioritize the well-being of children and their mothers.

Let's advocate for change and ensure that our system supports and rehabilitates rather than destroys families.

We all deserve a second chance, especially mothers. It is unjust for judges to sentence mothers to years away from their families, as this not only harms the children but also affects the entire family and community. Every time a judge hands down such a sentence, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Is this justice? It feels more like an executioner’s decision.

This country needs change if we want to save it. Let’s start by reconsidering the sentences for nonviolent, first-time offenders and offering them a true second chance. By doing so, we will be saving our family values and protecting the future of our families.

Imprisoning mothers not only punishes the individual but also severely impacts their children, who suffer from lack of proper care and emotional support. This separation can have long-lasting detrimental effects on the children’s well-being.

Modern technology offers us solutions such as house arrest and electronic monitoring, which allow women to serve their sentences at home. This approach ensures that while the mother faces the consequences of her actions, her children remain in a stable and nurturing environment. By keeping families together, we protect the children from exposure to potential dangers and trauma associated with parental absence.

It is imperative that we rethink our approach to incarcerating women, especially mothers, and leverage technology to create a more humane and effective system. This will not only benefit the individuals involved but also contribute positively to society by fostering healthier family units.