Having your 10th child at age 28 is unusual, maybe almost Duggar-level disturbing. However, Kylie Michelle Waite could well be doing it behind bars. The three-months'-pregnant Lavington, Australia, woman was recently sentenced to six months in jail for driving without a license. Unfortunately, this is not Waite's first driving offense. She has been sentenced by Judge David Freeman five times just since January.
Judge Freeman said, "The number of times she has been dealt with for disqualified driving and being unlicensed is staggering, considering her age." Waite currently has custody of four children, ages 9 months to 5 years, but this next baby will be her 10th biological child. She had her first child at 17.
Click here to read more on the issue of pregnancy in prison.
Of course, inmates giving birth in prison is a problem in the U.S. as well, where a law was recently passed in New York forbidding the shackling of women during labor. Women typically have to give up their newborns shortly after having them, and many don't see them again until their parole.
In California, where women give birth almost every day somewhere in the state's system, one of its facilities opened a prison nursery this year where babies are allowed to stay with their incarcerated mothers. Similar programs are springing up elsewhere.
In Waite's case, sentiment seems to coincide with the words of Public Prosecutions representative Tonya Adamson, who said the pregnant woman should have been thinking about her children when she got behind the wheel.
Some, however, argue that poor parenting skills, especially by women like Waites who have a family history of violence and addiction, can be better overcome through education than incarceration.
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Friday 11 September
By Darlene
I'm sorry that she has to go through this but, she knew that she had no license when she got behind the wheel. I wish her all the best with all of her children. She won't be the first nor the last women to do this. The law is the law and it's there to protect everyone. Kylie will get her child back when she gets out of jail and I know she will learn something from this. Kylie will miss all of her 10 children. Kylie needs to have her tubes tied after this 10th child. I only had 3 children myself and they are all grown but, I would have loved to have more. They didn't turn out so good so I think it was for the best that I had only 3. I thank God for them everyday.
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Sunday 13 September
By Oscar
Since a lot of details are missing in the story, I'd have to guess this woman was in a catch-22 situation. She probably could not get a license because of the first violation, or maybe because the fine cost her the money she would have used to buy the necessary insurance to get a license. In Texas, the fine for driving without insurance is $900, and liability on the average hoopty is about $500/year. Sensible people will keep their coverage, but life going the way it does, sometimes people get caught short. If caught by police, that fine will eradicate the possibility of getting insurance, thus starting the downward spiral that can bury people. Yeah, those poor folk are having a blast at the bottom of the food chain with all those govt entitlements.
Sunday 13 September
By Jennifer
Amen and thank you- said with tact and intelligence....i really appreciate that!
Sunday 13 September
By Ron Chat
Where is the sperm donner??
Sunday 13 September
By lita
Oscar needs to stop making excuses for dim bulbs like this. If she hasn't figured out that things are not going to improve if she continues to have babies after she has had nine by the age of 28, then I don't hold out much hope for her and her offspring. The tenth one is probably not going to improve her situation, pal. Likely, they will continue in their mother's irresponsible ways. (What would you say if she has an accident and disables or kills someone? Would you be as "understanding?") She has custody of four; who has the remaining five? And where are the fathers in all this. (Just a hunch, but I'm guessing there is more than one.)
Sunday 13 September
By Larry
The Law is the Law and there are to many Laws.
There is a Law for everything these days.
It is not about Law but Collections for the State, Plus they like holding Arrest over your head.
After Jail, You are still a Criminal.
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Sunday 13 September
By wendie
you are so absolutely correct. You just about have to be perfect to live and not always have the law to keep hanging you for the same thing over and over again.
Sunday 13 September
By Oscar
Sounds like you're from Texas! Our "penal" system is run by private companies for profit, and our prisons stay packed beyond capacity because they gat paid by headcount. Our state legislators criminalize more human activity in each session, passing thousands of new laws out of which they tell the public of about 3. They're really fond of manditory sentencing, using public outrage over the latest atrocity to get support from the public (the public being the same knee-jerks who attend townhall ranting and brandishing guns). For all that, our level of violent crime is pretty much the same as any place else.
Sunday 13 September
By Donna
I agree with you Larry.....of course the media has not told everything about this case , just enough to draw interest. However the law is set ...we all have to deal with it the best way we can, fork up the money (thats all it's really about, not teaching a lesson....if it was about teaching a lesson, the teaching would be done while in jail....but no, the rest of us have to pay for that. I myself would rather see the states find a way to teach rather than to tax me and make me pay for their jail time. As far as her having a baby and it being the tenth.....wouldnt it be better to teach her driving laws AND sex education. Being that I am a divorced middle aged woman who cant afford health ins. and cant get on med assistance if I get sick or need to go to the dentist or cant see, I say spade the dummy and make her go to school.
Sunday 13 September
By Lori
Duh - keep her in there. Maybe she will learn.
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Sunday 13 September
By Lisa
This has got to be the most ignorant, uneducated female, ever! I don't feel a bit sorry for her stupid ass. The ones who deserve our compassion are those innocent children. This woman should be sterilized, at the very least.
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Sunday 13 September
By Ronald Kangas
Driving with no drivers license again. Caught for the sixth time. Ten children by the age of 28. I suppose she has no job either. Nothing to do but stay home and have children and be supported by the state. What a life. Well at least when she is in jail she will not be getting pregnant. Oh I forgot she already is pregnant. I wonder if she even remembers the names of the fathers? She is a poster child for mandatory sterilization.
Sunday 13 September
By Marie
Lisa,
Thank you so much for your comment. Reading about how it is the "law" or the "systems" fault is making me sick! Someone wrote you have to live a perfect life to stay away from the police...WHAT! I hardly am perfect, but I know enough to make intelligent decisions that keep me out of the judicial system. It isn't really all that difficult is it? Seems I have made it to middle agel with one driving ticket and I haven't had to go to jail. It isn't any one's fault except for that stupid mother. Those poor children don't have a chance, do they? What is she teaching them? That is it everyones fault but hers...so they too can grow up expecting that the law doesn't apply to them. I would be interested in knowing how she supports herself and her four children. And not only where are the other five but why hasn't someone intervined with injected birthcontrol or and IUD? She has broken the same law five times since January, does no one else think she should be held accountable? Thanks
Sunday 13 September
By cocomom
28 years old and having her tenth child? That's ridiculous...I also saw no mention of a husband, I guess that's asking too much... God help us, my nana used to say, "This world is going to hell in a handbag" ... Sorry, this is disgraceful.
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Sunday 13 September
By jess
What she did was stupid, but how do you know she wasn't trying to go get food for her children or maybe she was trying to do something good. I have never thought to condemn someone over a little thing. I also think that saying someone should be sterilized is also good for certain people and I think that when you say that it had better be for someone who deserves it. This woman doesn't need that she needs to be educated and showed a certain way of living. I think people these days( I'm 17) don't have an ounce of care for anyone. You have no idea why she was behind that wheel therefore don't judge her. Have an ounce of compassion for her I'd have it for you if you didn't something stupid.
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Sunday 13 September
By Bryan
In case you missed it in the article, that was her 5th time since January. She had been given opportunities. So she was judged, and convicted. Since January, she may have thought about getting a licence to legally drive. I'm sure with that many kids she really could have used one. So sorry, there is no excuse for her, she's 28 and should have somewhat of a brain in her head to think logically.
Sunday 13 September
By getreal13
So, if I am reading correctly these women have nurseries for thier babies in prison meaning that it is free for them. Basically this means that they get free day care, free food, free everything for committing crimes. But its not free. Not for us, the taxpayers. Thier are hard working law abiding people out here that don't get free day care and food stamps, but now we have to pay for a criminals baby. I believe like some of the other people; if a fit family member or friend does not step up to the plate to claim the baby it should be put up for adoption. Jail is not a charity and it is certainly no place to raise a child.
Sunday 13 September
By writewaydesigns
I cannot help but wonder about her situation. Is she a single mother? Is the father of the children, or her parents and extended family, helping her? How did she lose her license -- due to reckless driving or because she couldn't afford to update it? How does she get to the grocery store, doctor visits, etc., without a license or a car? How does she provide for her children?
It seems this woman needs help...in more ways than one. How is being thrown in prison, and locked in a cell without her children, going to help her situation and that of her kids?
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Sunday 13 September
By irret
she should be in jail just for having so many kids.
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Sunday 13 September
By pingecho728
How can you be so ignorant? Since when is having a lot of children something that someone should be legally punished for? Is the woman really dangerous to society? Doesn't seem like it and thus is stupid to imprison people who are not going to harm someone. Set this woman free and save the prison space for someone more dangerous like a murderer, rapist or a child molester.