Action | Amend Minimum Standards for Jails and Lockups to add requirements on restraint of pregnant offenders |
Stage | Final |
Comment Period | Ended on 5/7/2014 |
I commend the Board of Corrections and the McDonnell and McAuliffe administrations for supporting these regulations. I also thank the Board for implementing a compassionate and commonsense policy. Once the regulations are in effect, I urge personnel at local and regional jails not to undermine their intent by considering every inmate a “flight risk” just because they are an inmate. Local and regional jail officials also should ensure that every “individualized determination” that a particular pregnant prisoner is a “risk” is based solely on the specific facts relating to the individual under consideration and that these facilities annually report any use of restraints on pregnant women. .