DOCR urges committee to authorize nursery program at Heart River Correctional Center; liability language on table

Cheryl Thomas, the women's services manager for the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR), testified that authorizing a prison nursery at Heart River Correctional Center (HRCC) would support maternal bonding and reduce recidivism.

Why it matters: Supporters said nursery programs give incarcerated mothers a chance to bond with infants during a critical developmental window, potentially improving outcomes for children and lowering reoffending rates. Opponents and some commenters asked for clearer fiscal, operational and liability safeguards before granting broad immunity or authorization.

What witnesses told the committee: Thomas said the DOCR’s proposal would allow infants to reside with incarcerated mothers in a separate, apartment‑style unit within HRCC; the department is planning a new facility and intends to design the space to separate nursery housing from general population. The DOCR described an application-based program that would consider medical, mental‑health and safety factors before placement. Thomas said most incarcerated women are mothers and cited national examples where nursery programs correlated with lower recidivism: Washington (3–5% reduction), Nebraska (10%) and Indiana (16%). She said the DOCR envisions…