INDIANAPOLIS–Shortly after IMPD Officer Breann Leath was laid to rest Thursday, Governor Holcomb announced that Leath would be forever remembered at the nursery in the Indiana Women’s Prison.
“Officer Leath was a true example of an officer dedicated not only to safety and security of the prison infant unit but also exemplified the goal to help incarcerated women become good mothers before leaving prison by making the IDOC mission her mission,” said Maggie Bryant, public information officer at the Indiana Women’s Prison.
The Wee Ones Nursery at the Indiana Women’s Prison has been renamed the “Officer Breann Leath Memorial Maternal & Child Health Unit.”
The reality series “Born Behind Bars,” featured Leath’s work with the Wee Ones Nursery at the Indiana Women’s Prison. According to the DOC website, the nursery is a voluntary program for pregnant offenders who meet certain criteria for participation.
April 16, 2020 was also the 12th anniversary of the unit’s opening.
“All of us who knew Breann were heartbroken over her senseless death and want her family and IMPD coworkers to know Breann will not be forgotten,” Bryant concluded.
Governor Holcomb agreed with Byrant.
“I hope that, in the coming days, as we all together as a state work our way through this pandemic, that we bring an equal amount of passion and compassion as Breann did every day she came to work,” Holcomb said in a news conference Thursday.
Over the last 12 years, the program has admitted over 300 pregnant offenders and welcome over 200 babies into the world. The Department of Correction says the child health unit encourages the preservation of family by providing incarcerated mothers and their children a meaningful transition into the community.
Leath was shot and killed on a domestic violence call last Thursday. She was 24 years old.
