Parliamentary Research Unit2026-07-312026-07-312026-07-27https://archive.parliament.gov.za/handle/123456789/8536Mother Baby Units are designed to accommodate the needs of mothers and infants by providing a separate living environment within correctional facilities. While the intention is to protect the maternal bond and promote early childhood development, the presence of children in prisons raises difficult questions about the appropriateness of custodial environments for infants and the extent to which the state can fullfil its constitutional obligations toward children in such settings.enLegislative oversight-South AfricaCriminal justice- Administration ofCorrectional institutionsMother and infantTowards a monitoring tool for selective sites in the Criminal Justice system : mother and baby units in correctional centres monitoring toolTechnical Report