sz. Pregnant Inmate Surprised with Baby Shower in Jail by Sheriff’s Office Before Giving Birth to Son

Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility inmate, Taylor, welcomes baby son, Kingston Ryder. Credit :

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook

NEED TO KNOW

• Taylor was six months pregnant when arrested by Flagler County Sheriff’s Office in August
• “I got everything you could possibly think of,” jail inmate Taylor said after deputies surprised her with a baby shower
• The Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook that she was “healthy and in good spirits” after giving birth to a son on Thursday, Dec. 11

An inmate at a detention facility in Florida is expressing her appreciation after deputies supported her throughout her pregnancy and the birth of her baby.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Dec. 17, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office announced that Taylor, an inmate in the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, gave birth to a “healthy” son on Thursday, Dec. 11.

They shared two photos of Taylor in hospital holding her baby boy, as well as a snap of the newborn sleeping.

“A healthy, full-term baby boy named Kingston Ryder, weighing 8 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches long,” the announcement read, adding, “Mom is also healthy and in good spirits. “Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility inmate, Taylor, welcomes baby son, Kingston Ryder, and gets a visit from an officer.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook

“Taylor was just six months pregnant when Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested her in August,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote in the announcement. “With a baby on the way, she was sentenced by a judge to the jail’s SMART Program, where she is now working hard to turn her life around.”

The SMART Program stands for “Successful Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Treatment,” according to a previous news release,

The Sheriff’s Office continued, “During Taylor’s period of parental incapacity due to her incarceration, Kingston will be cared for by a loving family from Vermont who has been granted the legal authority of temporary guardianship.

“Taylor will strive to complete her SMART treatment program at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and be released next year,” the authorities said. “Upon successful completion of the SMART program, she will be reunited with Kingston and enter an outpatient treatment program that will allow for her to care for him while continuing her rehabilitation and substance use disorder treatment.”Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility inmate, Taylor, welcomes baby son, Kingston Ryder.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook

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Before Taylor’s son was born, deputies and the SMART team arranged a surprise baby shower.

“Master Detention Deputy Justine Crego and Deputy Danielle Boyer went all out by purchasing gifts with their own money,” said the Sheriff’s Office on Facebook. “Sheriff Rick Staly believes that helping an inmate turn their life around and become a productive citizen and parent improves our community. This is an excellent example of the effort and dedication our team puts in to change inmates’ lives.”Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility inmate Taylor’s baby son, Kingston Ryder.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook

Taylor told Fox 35 Orlando that she “got everything you could possibly think of” at the baby shower, with gifts ranging from a new car seat to hygiene items.

“This is my first boy,” she said, per the outlet, sharing how “lucky” she was to get into the jail program, which helps inmates “break harmful patterns, learn new skills and prepare for stable lives after release.”

“I was lucky enough to get into a program they have, which has been incredible and is changing my life,” Taylor said, per Fox 35 Orlando. “It’s going to be changing my son’s life for the better.”

Taylor added in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, “I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the support I’ve received during my time in the Flagler County Jail. This experience has been totally unexpected; I never imagined finding such kindness and encouragement here.” 

“The compassion shown by the staff and the volunteers has truly inspired me to turn my life around, and with the excellent treatment, group and individual therapy in the SMART program, I will leave here the very best version of myself to care for my son in the next chapter of our lives,” she continued.

Sheriff Rick Staly insisted he’s “incredibly proud of our deputies and our entire detention team for the commitment they show—both inside and outside the walls of our award-winning jail.”

“The care and compassion expressed in gestures like Taylor’s baby shower reflect the heart of our agency and our belief in going above and beyond to help turn lives around,” he went on to say in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. 

“By supporting individuals and families at critical moments like this, our detention team helps create pathways for inmates to return to our community as productive, responsible citizens,” Sheriff Staly shared.

Meanwhile, Chief Dan Engert said, “I am immensely proud of our dedicated deputies and treatment team who wholeheartedly embraced Sheriff Staly’s motto: ‘Improving inmate outcomes improves our community.'” 

“Taylor’s journey is a powerful testament to their unwavering commitment to rehabilitation and support. By providing her with the tools she needs to succeed in our SMART program, they are not only transforming her life but also strengthening the fabric of our community. Together, we are making a lasting impact by fostering hope and creating a brighter future for everyone who graduates from our SMART program,” he concluded in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.