Summary

This bill directs the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to implement a residential infant care and parenting program for inmate mothers modeled after the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Mothers and Infants Together program.

Background

According to the DOJ: The Mothers With Infants Together (MINT) program, allows eligible pregnant offenders to reside in a community-based program for 2 months prior to delivery to prepare for birth and for 3 months after delivery to bond with their baby. MINT was created in 1994 in Fort Worth, Texas, by the Volunteers of America and has served as a model for other correctional systems nationwide. Women are referred to MINT by sentencing judges or federal institutions. The MINT program allows mothers to participate in prenatal and postnatal programs on issues such as childbirth, parenting and family support skills, family literacy, and substance abuse education.

Blog Referencing HB 199

Grits supports it.

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