MOTHERHOOD: BEHIND BARS


There are more than 1,300 female offenders serving hard time in Wisconsin's prison system, a number that has quadrupled in the past 20 years. Two-thirds of women in prison leave behind minor children and a majority of them are single moms, with an average of two kids, who were the custodial parent before they were arrested.

Pregnant inmate Merica Kabke-Erato pauses for a moment prior to her hearing in Winnebago County Circuit Court March 11, 2005 in Oshkosh. She entered Taycheedah Correctional Institution in Fond du Lac pregnant and gave birth to a girl while in prison.
Steve Erato gets the first glimpse of his daughter, Italia, born May 29, 2005 at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac. Italia's mother, Merica Kabke-Erato, gave birth to the girl while serving an 18-month sentence at Taycheedah Correctional Institution in Fo


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Steve Erato and his mother, Grace Erato, get their first glimpse of Italia, born May 29, 2005 at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac. Italia's mother, Merica Kabke-Erato, gave birth to the girl while serving an 18-month sentence at Taycheedah Correctional I
Merica Kabke-Erato, an inmate at Taycheedah Correctional Institution in Fond du Lac, shares a visit with her 2-month-old daughter, Italia, and husband, Steve Erato, July 22, 2005. She was later transferred to Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center in Uni
Samantha Luther holds photos of her sons Rhylee and Jayden in her room at John C. Burke Correctional Center Dec. 29, 2005.
"I don't know what went wrong with me," said Samantha Luther, 21, July 20, 2005. "I had a good childhood but I felt useless and out of place." She, like 6 percent of female inmates, entered prison pregnant.
Inmate Tammy Armstrong, 27, comforts her son, Brandon, 7, during a day-long visit together at Taycheedah Correctional Institution. "We look forward to this, " said Armstrong, who is serving 20 years for second-degree intentional homicide. "Sometimes we ha
Karina, 10, and her brother, Santos, 6, leave Taycheedah Correctional Institution after a day-long visit with their mother, Candida Andino. Andino is serving 35 years for attempted first-degree murder.
Seven-year-old Brandon made a book for his mother, Tammy Armstrong, who is serving time at Taycheedah Correction Institution.
Inmate Tammy Armstrong, 27, and her son, Brandon, 7, make his birthday cake during a day-long visit in the Doty House at Taycheedah Correctional Institution.
"You're getting too big for me to hold you," said inmate Candida Andino, 35, during a day long visit with her daughter, Karina, 10, and son, Santos, 6, (back) in the Doty House at Taycheedah Correctional Institution. The toughest thing that I deal with ev
Inmate Candida Andino, 35, holds her son, Santos', hand during a visit with her children in the Doty House at Taycheedah Correctional Institution.
Inmate Candida Andino, 35, tugs on her son, Santos', loose tooth, during a visit with her children in the Doty House at Taycheedah Correctional Institution.
Inmate Corrina Deichsel, 29 (right) walks with her children Kayla, 9 (center) and Devon, 6, where they'll spend a day-long visit together in the Doty House at Taycheedah Correctional Institution.
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