Topic: A Broader View / should my daughter visit her mother in jail? is there a benefit to visiting?

Absolutely not! Remember almost “all behavior is learned” but not all learned behavior is a deterrent from other behavior. Your wife is serving only several months incarceration. Frequent phone calls to your daughter, letter writing and various visits to subsequent court appearances should serve the “child-parent” bonding continuity (for the child’s sake). Anything more may prove to be a bad experience(s) for your child and your wife.

Just guessing – was the financial infraction drug or alcohol related? Regardless, your wife will experience some ‘motherly’ anxiety as she misses her daughter, wondering how she is doing etc., may serve to impress upon her the consequences of her actions, it could be worse next time. All while protecting the child; jail is no place to an innocent child, not even to visit. She is too young to be curious about such places, and her curiosity will certainly peak as she wonders about a place her mother is. I would not even explain why "mother isn’t coming home soon!

Protect your child, help teach your wife consequences of crime!!