Tutwiler

The United States is one of the top incarcerators ofwomen in the world. The number of women incarceratedin American jails and prisons has increased by morethan 700 percent. Which means more and more womenare giving birth behind bars. What is it like to givebirth — and then be forced to say goodbye to yourbaby 24 hours later? To most mothers, it’s a scenariothat is unimaginable. But it’s the reality for the dozensof pregnant women behind bars in any given year atAlabama’s notorious Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women.In this unique portrait of motherhood, women whogive birth while incarcerated at one of America’s mostnotorious prisons struggle to stay connected with theirchildren on the outside. The mothers turn to a groupof doulas for support through pregnancy, labour andseparation from their newborns; and they help eachother cope with loss and guilt. This rare, intimate lookbehind the walls of a women’s prison raises questionsabout how our nation is handling the growing crisisof incarcerated mothers - and the children who muststart their lives under these circumstances. Tutwiler,a documentary short from Frontline and The MarshallProject, offers a powerful and unforgettable window intothe lives of incarcerated pregnant women — and whathappens to their newborns. Directed by Academy Awardnominatedfilmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon.