A former prison guard was fired when she stepped forward to help an incarcerated woman by offering to care for her newborn baby while she completed her prison sentence....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Roberta Bell, 58, lost her job when she offered to care for Katie Bourgeois’s baby as it violated the rules of her employment. Despite the consequences, Roberta says she stands by her decision, saying she has no regrets,
reports The Washington Post.
Katie, 30, who had been serving time for drug charges at the Louisiana Transition Center for Women, found herself pregnant and anxious about the fate of her unborn child. Her due date wasin mid-May, about seven weeks before her release date in July.
With no one to turn to for support, she confided in her fellow inmates, who mentioned the compassionate nature of Officer Roberta Bell.
Roberta Bell worked at the Louisiana Transitional Center for Women in Tallulah, Louisiana, for over three years.
After learning about Katie’s predicament, Roberta wasted no time in approaching her and offering to care for the baby. Katie was accepted the offer, as she didn’t want her child to be placed in the custody of Child Protective Services.
Although it was against the rules for Roberta to provide her personal contact information to an inmate, she believed it was the right thing to do.
“I knew that God wanted me to follow my heart, and I knew I couldn’t allow a baby to go to protective services when Katie really wanted that child,” she said.
Roberta informed her supervisor about her intention, hoping for permission to carry out her act of kindness. However, she received no response.
Inmate Katie Bourgeois was just months away from giving birth to her first child and was desperately looking for a caretaker.
When Katie went into labor on May 16, Roberta was called into a meeting with facility administrators, who confronted her about the violation and she was later fired from her job.
Unfazed, she remained committed to her promise, stating that she would go and get the child if the hospital contacted her.
“I was aware it would be seen as a conflict of interest, but I am a woman of my word,” said Roberta, who had worked at the facility for almost four years. “I wanted to do the best thing for Katie and her child.
“So many of [the women in prison] have been used and abused and have had hard lives on the streets,” she said. “I found that if I showed them a little love, it went a long way. I sensed that Katie was a good person who had just made some bad choices in her life.”
On May 17, Katie gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Kayson. With Katie back in prison, Roberta was granted permission to pick up the newborn from the hospital. She completed the necessary paperwork, collected the baby, and welcomed him into her home, providing him with everything he needed.
Roberta said she’s blessed to have been a part of something bigger than her job.
After serving her full sentence, Katie was released from prison on July 4 and was picked up by Roberta and her newborn son.
Presently, Katie and Kayson are staying with Roberta in Vicksburg, Mississippi, until Katie can secure employment and establish her independence, and she hopes to become a hairstylist.
Roberta dreams of starting a group home for recently released women who have nowhere else to go.
Reflecting on the entire experience, Katie expressed her gratitude, saying, “How can I thank this woman? She’s a stranger who showed so much love. If not for this angel, I don’t know what I would have done. I feel like I’ve found a friend forever in Miss Bell…CONTINUE READING>>
