Facing the Reality of Incarcerated Pregnant Women

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, it has been estimated that the number of women, between 1990 and 2009, had increased to about 153%, - and a majority of those women who were incarcerated were apprehended for nonviolent crimes as well as property offense and drugs. Upon further investigation, it was reported that around 6%-10% of those imprisoned women were pregnant.

Pregnant women going through the experience of incarceration are among the most overlooked and marginalized individuals. Their pregnancies are often unplanned, which is what makes them vulnerable under the influence of the criminal justice system. In addition to that, their health is extremely compromised due to the lack of proper nutrition, drug abuse, domestic violence, inadequate prenatal care, etc. 

As stated by the AMA Journal of Ethics, incarcerated women in their reproductive years are generally around the age of 34- and about 5-10% of these women enter jail during their pregnancy, resulting in the birth of approximately 2,000 babies annually. When it comes to their care, they are treated accordingly to the status of their offense, which in many ways has been considered unacceptable.

One of the many drawbacks that incarcerated women face is that some correctional facilities are not mandated to report or keep track of pregnancy-related information. In contrast, other facilities don't even have a proper process for collecting these data.

Furthermore, the number of black incarcerated women is twice as higher than white women- the result of racism that is deep-rooted within the United States criminal legal system. This also deprives these women of color with even more lack of resources for accessing proper healthcare for their pregnancy needs.

Many correctional facilities don't have an on-site obstetric care, so the pregnant women are then transported to the community-based providers that supervise prenatal care. Whereas the women who are going through labor are sent to medical institutions for the delivery. Even though every jurisdiction has a different policy regarding transport, labor, delivery, and even post-delivery, the incarcerated women are often shackled in leg irons, waist chains, and handcuffs during the entire period of their pregnancy and after childbirth.

There has been a high retaliation response from organizations that have been relentlessly working to put an end to such awful treatment of these incarcerated pregnant women. A prime example can be the RestoreHER US. America Inc. - an Atlanta-based non-profit policy advocacy organization founded by Pamela Winn. This organization protects the rights of incarcerated and marginalized women and women of color through advocacy, education, and women empowerment.

One of the most notable works of RestoreHER is as the acting forefront of the campaign and lead advisor of state legislation for the "Dignity for Incarcerated Women Georgia" HB345, which was hosted by Chairwoman Sharon Cooper, including the many efforts of several representatives such as David Dreyer, Renitta Shannon, Park Cannon, and Bee Nguyen. Alongside with them included several collaborating organizations and women who were directly affected by the harsh incarcerated realities.

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Created on Jan 12th 2021 10:06. Viewed 270 times.

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MARKETING Optimization   Optimization MARKETING According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, it has been estimated that the number of women, between 1990 and 2009, had increased to about 153%, - and a majority of those women who were incarcerated were apprehended for nonviolent crimes as well as property offense and drugs. Upon further investigation, it was reported that around 6%-10% of those imprisoned women were pregnant. Pregnant women going through the experience of incarceration are among the most overlooked - individuals... Apr 10th 2021 17:53