shackling during labor and delivery
Shackling Women Prisoners During Childbirth is Immoral
by Rev. Richard Killmer, National Religious Campaign Against Torture.
August 24, 2011 - 5:15pm (Print)
The Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC) decided to strengthen and expand existing policies banning shackling of pregnant inmates during labor, delivery and post- recovery. The National Religious Campaign Against Torture applauds this step. However, the cruel and inhumane practice of shackling inmates who are in labor still occurs in some local and regional correctional facilities. Virginia should join the 13 states that have enacted legislation to prohibit this barbaric practice.
In a Victory, Virginia Prisons Will Limit the Shackling of Pregnant Women
by Katherine Greenier, ACLU-VA
August 19, 2011 - 7:37am (Print)
Fourteen states currently limit the use of restraints on pregnant inmates, and now Virginia is one of the few states with forward-thinking policies regarding the use of restraints on pregnant inmates. However, local and regional jails in Virginia are not subject to the DOC regulations, so pregnant women at those facilities are still at risk.
Virginia Refuses to Unshackle Pregnant Inmates
by Katherine Greenier, ACLU-VA
March 25, 2011 - 8:36am (Print)
On Feb. 4, the Virginia General Assembly's House Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee defeated a bill that would have limited the use of restraints on pregnant inmates.
Roundup: Massachusetts Town Caves on Condom Policy
by Beth Saunders, RH Reality Check
June 30, 2010 - 9:43am (Print)
Following up on the Massachusetts school district in the hot seat over a policy to distribute condoms to any student that requests one, plus Sharron Angle knows God's will, and Pennsylvania is poised to ban the shackling of incarcerated birthing women.
In Labor and In Chains
by Malika Saada Saar, Rebecca Project for Human Rights
October 6, 2009 - 6:00am (Print)
Using restraints on women in prison during labor and delivery is cruel, inhumane and degrading and rarely justified on security grounds. Our video profiles a woman shackled during childbirth.
