An estimated 70-80 percent of female inmates are mothers. After incarceration most mothers plan to be reunited with their children. The majority of children are placed with relatives during the mother's imprisonment. Mothers in prison appear to be most satisfied when their own mothers are the primary caretakers of their children. Separation is considered one of the issues that causes pain for both imprisoned mothers and their children. Inmate mothers lose a major source of identity when they lose their parental role because of incarceration. They typically feel helplessness, anger, guilt, fears of loss of attachment, and rejection. Some become hostile and alienated. Children are also harmed by the experienced of their mothers' incarceration; the mother-child relationship may be permanently damaged. Mothers cope with separation in ways that include psychological withdrawal, physical isolation, and the creation of substitute ties. Support systems are needed to address the initial separation, the maintenance or strengthening of ties during the separation, and the reunion. Baunach recommends that inmate mothers take part in the development, implementation, and operation of programs to retain ties with their children. Inmate mothers need to be located where they have access to visits from their children. They need access to drug treatment during and after incarceration. During incarceration they also need programs and training to strengthen their skills for both parenting and the job market. 47 references