Ep 10. Believe In Me

Born Behind Bars is a docu-series that gives viewers a glimpse into the lives of incarcerated mothers and their children. In season 1 episode 10, titled Believe In Me, the focus is on two mothers and their efforts to reconnect with their children despite the limitations of life behind bars.

The first mother we meet is Jessica, who is serving time at the Indiana Women's Prison for forgery and theft. She has a 5-year-old son named Jason who she has not seen in over a year. Jessica reflects on the mistakes she made that led her to prison, saying that she got caught up in the wrong crowd and started using drugs. She now regrets the choices she made and is determined to turn her life around so she can be a better mother to Jason.

Jessica is allowed to have visits with Jason once a month, but because he lives with his grandmother and cannot always come to the prison, their time together is limited. In this episode, Jessica gets emotional as she talks about missing her son's first day of kindergarten and fears that she is missing out on other important milestones in his life. Despite this, she remains hopeful and determined to make the most of their visits.

The second mother we meet is Christian, who is serving time at the Yakima County Jail in Washington for drug-related charges. She has a 2-year-old daughter named McKayla who she has not seen in several months because the jail does not allow visits for children under the age of 6. Christian says that being separated from her daughter has been one of the hardest things she's ever had to go through.

Christian's mother and sister have been caring for McKayla while Christian is incarcerated, but she worries that her daughter will not remember her when she gets out of jail. In this episode, Christian writes a letter to McKayla expressing her love and longing to be with her. She also participates in a parenting program at the jail to prepare herself for the day she is reunited with her daughter.

Throughout the episode, we see both Jessica and Christian struggle with their confinement and the limitations it places on their relationships with their children. They both express regret for the choices they made that led them to prison, but they also show resilience and a willingness to do whatever it takes to be better mothers.

Believe In Me is a heart-wrenching episode that highlights the challenges faced by mothers who are incarcerated and their children. Despite the obstacles they face, Jessica and Christian hold on to hope and a belief in a better future for themselves and their children. Through their stories, viewers are given a deeper understanding of the impact of the criminal justice system on families and the importance of supporting incarcerated mothers in their efforts to reconnect with their children.