Caged Beginnings: The Mexican Prison Infrastructure’s Influence on the Early Development of Children with Incarcerated Mothers

In Mexico, women deprived of liberty who have children under three years old are allowed to keep them inside penitentiary centres to preserve the mother-child bond, as established by the National Law on Criminal Enforcement. Early childhood is a critical period for human development and children’s brains are especially sensitive to a variety of influences during this time, both positive and negative. Healthy development during these early years lays the foundation for lifelong well-being, while adverse experiences can lead to negative health outcomes and behaviours in adulthood, exacerbating social inequalities.