DETROIT – Before Jessica Waldron was wearing a green jumpsuit as a resident of the Wayne County Jail she was out in the city of Wayne breaking into houses to feed a drug addiction.
Soon after being caught in a home invasion on Mildred Street she realized she was pregnant. She's 3 months pregnant now and behind bars.
She stopped doing drugs and now says she is a new person -- not someone who should be locked up.
"I would just like to apologize and say I'm sorry," she said.
She wants out and the jail is backing her up.
"Because she is pregnant, I hope that is not a policy of the jail," said Judge David Groner, of the 3rd Circuit Court. "If they are pregnant they want to release you. Otherwise, everyone will get pregnant, commit a crime and the jail won't keep you. It is a high-risk pregnancy."
Prosecutors agreeing with the jail, that a drug-addicted mother creates a high-risk pregnancy, are asking the judge to release Waldron from jail and put her on probation with strict drug testing and treatment.
"If we could get an order that requires outpatient treatment and NA three times a week, that would satisfy us," said Asst. Wayne County Prosecutor James Hammer.
After reaching out to Waldron's fiancé to see if he would offer her support in her rehabilitation, the judge agreed to let her out of jail but with a very serious promise if she screws up again.
"If you violate your probation I will put you in prison and you will have your baby there," said Judge Groner. "There is a hospital there and you will have your baby in prison. I'm not going to be sympathetic that you are pregnant."