Pubdate: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH) Section: Metro Page: B5 Copyright: 1999, The Columbus Dispatch Contact: http://www.dispatch.com/ STATE SAYS MAN CAN'T ATTEND BIRTH TO HIS INMATE-WIFE CINCINNATI (AP) -- State officials won't allow a man to be with his imprisoned wife when she gives birth to their child at the Ohio State University Medical Center. Sean Turner, 29, of suburban Mariemont, wants to be with his wife, Barbara, when she gives birth to their first child. Mrs. Turner is serving 21/2 years for drug offenses in Butler and Hamilton counties. She is due to give birth this month. "This is my first child, and I want to be there,'' Turner said. "I know that Barbie did something wrong, but this is an innocent that's involved here. "I'm being punished, and the baby's being punished, too.'' Mrs. Turner is in the Franklin County Pre-Release Center, where pregnant inmates stay until it's time to give birth. About 900 babies have been born to inmates in Ohio the past nine years, and no one has been given permission to attend a birth, said Joe Andrews, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. The decision is up to prison officials, who cited security concerns in rejecting Turner's requests. "It's very unfortunate that he isn't able to do the things that a normal father would be able to do, including witness a baby being born,'' Andrews said. "However, (Mrs. Turner) gave up that right when she came into the prison system being an inmate.'' - --- MAP posted-by: Patrick Henry