This time together in prison helps the early mother-child bonding that is critical to the child's lifelong success. It helps the mother to mature more by reducing the rate of recidivism and because mothers can raise their children in a safer environment than on the street without assistance. The mother-child bond is an extraordinarily powerful bond that must be established for the child's ultimate well-being. Through these means, allowing mothers to serve prison sentences with their children is a beneficial alternative to raising them on cold, dangerous, and harsh streets. Ultimately, what is best for the child must be the primary goal, and mothers know this