Woman charged in child abandonment case

The woman whose three-year-old was lost and then found last month is facing a new charge of criminal negligence, in addition to child abandonment. Questions about the woman’s state of mind remain. She can’t be named, following a court order.

CBC radio says the woman could do serious time over criminal negligence. Would this help the situation? Shouldn’t she be offered mental health and social support instead so that her kid doesn’t have to visit her in prison?