Shackling of Pregnant Prisoners (H 7182A, S 2268A)

Shackling of pregnant prisoners is recognized worldwide as a violation of human rights. A restrained pregnant woman cannot move freely or control her balance, placing both her and her fetus at risk. While state law restricts shackling pregnant prisoners during transport to a medical facility and during labor, a gap in the law allowed for shackling during transport to and from court. Legislation addressed that gap by prohibiting shackling to and from a court proceeding during an inmate’s third trimester of pregnancy. The bill passed the Senate in 2017, but died in the House. This year, both houses overwhelmingly approved this critical measure.