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Choosing Adoption When Pregnant in Jail [4 Steps to Take]

How Adoption is always an Option 

Being pregnant in jail or prison is not an uncommon situation. However, if you’re pregnant and in jail, you may not be sure what options are available to you. Thankfully, adoption is always an option for you — and it can give your baby an amazing life of stability, love, and endless opportunity. 

What Happens When You Have a Baby in Jail, and How Do You Complete a Prison Adoption? 

It’s important to know exactly what your options are if you’re pregnant in prison: 

  • Temporarily or permanently placing your baby with a member of your family or a friend 
  • Letting the state take custody of your child after birth 
  • Creating an adoption plan with an adoption lawyer or adoption agency

Whichever option you choose, it’s important to have as much information as possible to know that it’s the right decision for you and your baby — as difficult as this choice can be to make. 

If you anticipate giving birth in prison, it’s a good idea to explore these options before you are incarcerated. Once you are in prison, the information and resources available to you for making your decision may be more limited. So, if possible, it’s encouraged that you reach out to professionals before your intake. 

By choosing to safely place your child with a screened and prepared adoptive family, you can know that they will grow up in a safe and stable situation with a family that loves them beyond measure.  

Remember: you can always legally choose adoption, and there are many professionals out there willing to help you complete the legal and emotional process involved. Your caseworker can help you get more information on adoption while a birth parent is in prison and how you can begin viewing available adoptive family video profiles today. 

Can Someone Adopt My Child if I’m in Jail? 

If you are in jail and want someone to adopt your child, you can do this. Working together with your prison caseworker and an adoption professional, you will be able to decide what type of adoption could be possible.  

This is true in cases when you are pregnant and want to place the baby for adoption, and when you already have a child and want to permanently transfer parental rights to a different person. 

If, on the other hand, you are asking this question because you are in prison and want to maintain your parental rights, the best course of action is to speak with your attorney specifically about this concern as soon as possible. Situations like this are complex, and each case will come down to a judge’s unique decision. 

There are hundreds of hopeful adoptive families waiting for the opportunity to give your baby a safe and loving home. Your caseworker and attorney can help you work with trusted and experienced adoption specialists to not only create an adoption plan but get you started on viewing video profiles of prospective adoptive families

Choosing a Prison Adoption 

You can still complete an adoption if you’re pregnant in jail or prison — and your adoption professional will accommodate your circumstances to help you create an adoption plan that’s right for you. By doing so, you are making the brave and heroic decision to find your baby the perfect home with a loving family, as well as giving yourself a fresh start you need.

Depending on how long you have until your intake, you may be able to start an adoption plan before you are incarcerated. Once you are in prison, your adoption process will likely be mediated by your prison caseworker. 

They’ll work closely with your chosen adoption professional to help you create an adoption plan that fits your situation, and they’ll also serve as your emotional counselor throughout this entire process. How much direct contact you have with your adoption professional will vary based on your security level and the policies of your prison. 

While a prison adoption will be different from adoptions completed by women who are not incarcerated, there will be some similar steps throughout: 

1. Finding an Adoptive Family 

You can still choose an adoptive family for your baby if you’re pregnant in prison, but you likely won’t have the opportunity to share as much contact with them before you give birth.  

Once you decide what your preferences are for an adoptive family, your adoption professional can send you adoptive family profiles (including descriptions and photos of the family) to choose from.  

While you may not have the chance to ask them any questions personally before choosing them, your prison caseworker will be able to answer any additional questions you have. 

2. Receiving Financial Assistance 

Your prison officials will make sure you receive the necessary prenatal care for your unborn baby, and these medical services will be paid for by the state. Because the rest of your living expenses (like food) are also paid for by the state, you won’t need to receive the same kind of financial assistance as a woman who’s outside of prison would. 

However, you may be able to receive limited financial assistance for items from your prison commissary and to pay for any phone calls you might need to make to your adoption professional or chosen adoptive family (more on that contact below).  

You should be comfortable during your pregnancy, so your adoption professional and the adoptive parents will make sure you receive the financial assistance you need for certain additional items you’d like. For example, you might want to buy stamps to send letters to the adoptive parents or extra food to handle your pregnancy cravings. 

Remember, your adoption services will be provided completely free of cost to you, so you don’t need to worry about any legal or adoption professional expenses when you choose adoption in jail. 

3. Sharing Contact with the Adoptive Parents 

Even if you’re pregnant and in jail, you still have the right to share contact with your baby’s adoptive family — although your options may be a bit more limited. 

Usually, the only way you’ll be able to contact the adoptive family is through letters but, if possible, you may be able to share phone calls (which the adoptive family will pay for).  

Your caseworker will help you determine what kind of contact schedule you would like in your situation, and they’ll help mediate this contact during and after your adoption process is complete. For example, they’ll make sure you receive the letters and pictures from the adoptive family after placement while you serve your sentence. 

Once you are released from prison, you can work with your adoption professional to secure your letters and pictures (as well as any additional contact you and they agreed upon) from the adoptive family. 

Speak to your caseworker about getting connected with an adoption specialist to learn more about open adoption and how you can stay connected to your child and the adoptive family you choose. 

4. Giving Birth in Prison and Signing Your Adoption Paperwork 

If you will be giving birth in prison, you will likely be transported to a nearby hospital, where you’ll be kept under the monitoring of a security professional. When you choose adoption with a trusted and experienced adoption agency, you will create an adoption hospital plan which includes preferences you have for your labor and delivery experience.  

Typically, you would make decisions on: 

  • Time spent with your baby 
  • Whether you wish to see and interact with the adoptive family 
  • Naming your baby 
  • And more 

Much of your adoption hospital plan and decision-making will depend on your situation. Your caseworker and adoption specialist will coordinate with the local hospital to make sure those officials and you are fully prepared for the hospital stay and know what to expect. 

During your hospital stay, you will also likely sign your adoption paperwork. Your adoption lawyer will have prepared you for this process by filling out pre-adoption paperwork when you were pregnant, and they will be present to explain exactly what you are signing and how it affects your legal rights.  

Your state laws will determine when you can sign this adoption paperwork. While you always have the right to sign the paperwork when you’re ready, you should know that waiting too long may place your child in the custody of the state. 

Your prison caseworker will work with you and your adoption specialist during this post-placement period to help you through your difficult emotions and mediate any post-adoption contact. 

If You’re Already in Prison or Know Someone Who is 

Sometimes, women enter prison not knowing that they’re pregnant. When they find out, they may be concerned about completing their entire  adoption process from within prison.  

Whether you’re pregnant in prison or you know someone who is a pregnant inmate, it’s important to start thinking about those unplanned pregnancy options in jail. 

While the prison social workers will likely have referrals for adoption professionals, a woman always has the right to choose an adoption professional she wants. Here are some things you might consider if you’re pregnant in jail and considering adoption

  • Ask your social worker if you can research different adoption professionals from within the jail. 
  • If you can’t research on your own, you might enlist a friend or family member to research for you based on your preferences for an adoption professional. 
  • Ask if you can speak to a representative from your chosen adoption professional either over the phone or in-person before you commit to working with them. 

Adoption Agencies for Prisoners

While there will be certain restrictions for your adoption based on your being in jail, which adoption professional you work with will play a large role in how your adoption proceeds. That’s why, if at all possible, you should make sure you choose the best professional for you and your unborn baby. Some professionals to consider are: 

Your Other Options for a Pregnancy in Jail 

The many benefits of adoption for a birth parent in prison help create a better future for you, your child and a hopeful adoptive family. But there are additional options for your pregnancy in jail to consider, including:

Placing Your Baby with a Friend or Family Member 

If you’re serving a short sentence and are confident that you can provide for your child when you’re released from prison, you may want to consider a temporary guardianship with a friend or family member.  

This way, your baby can be cared for by someone you love while you serve the rest of your sentence and returned to you when you are released from prison. However, you’ll need to carefully consider whether you can provide the best environment for your child once you are released from prison before deciding on this placement. 

Another option is to permanently place your child with a friend or family member through adoption. This may give you peace of mind knowing that your child will grow up with a loved one, but it can also come with some unique challenges.  

You’ll need to consider whether this friend or family member can actually provide the supportive environment you want for your baby, rather than letting your emotions and desire to keep your baby close dictate your decision. 

Placing Your Child with the Department of Social Services 

Given the choice, most mothers in prison would not choose to place a child in the foster system. However, if you don’t make a plan for your child after they’re born, they will likely be placed into the custody of the state for the remainder of your sentence.  

While you may be able to complete a reunification plan through the Department of Social Services after you’re released from prison, if the department deems reunification impossible because of your circumstances, your baby could be adopted or spend years in foster care waiting to be adopted.  

Your prison caseworker can give you more information on whether you would be able to be reunified with your child in foster care after you are released. 

While there are loving foster parents and people who adopt from the foster care system, there is always a level of uncertainty involved — which you can avoid by creating a solid, voluntary adoption plan with a private adoption professional capable of connecting you with an amazing adoptive family ready to give your child a loving home. 

Raising Your Child in Prison 

Depending on your state’s laws, your prison’s policies and the length of your sentence, you may be able to keep your child with you as you continue to serve the remaining time of your sentence.  

Some prisons provide nurseries and family preparation options for their mothers behind bars, which will allow you to care for your child while incarcerated and prepare you to adjust to your new motherhood when you are released. 

However, these options are very specific to certain institutions, so if you don’t have these programs available to you, it, unfortunately, won’t be an option. 

Decide What’s Best for You [Adoption Creates a Better Future for Everyone Involved] 

Ultimately, if you’re pregnant in jail, you are the only one who can decide what’s best for you and your baby. However, your prison caseworker will be available to counsel you through this decision and connect you to the resources you need, especially if you choose a prison infant adoption.  

Remember, it’s important to find the best solution for you and your child to give both of you your best opportunities — for you when you’re released from prison and for your baby to grow up in a stable environment. 

There are trusted and experienced adoption agencies and specialists ready to help guide you through the adoption process while pregnant in jail. By choosing adoption, you not only give your baby a chance to live his or her best life, but you create a better future for yourself once you’ve been released and you help a hopeful adoptive family live out their dream of adopting a child. 

Talk to your caseworker to find out how to speak to an adoption specialist today