Reading about policies in Virginia prisons I wonder if correction officials have completely lost track of what we are trying to accomplish by temporarily isolating individuals from society.  As I understand the theory, we have two goals:

1.  Prevent harm to others

2.  Provide the individual opportunities to find more productive ways to live their life.

A general principle of restraining pregnant inmates seems to me to serve neither of these goals.  New rules should make restraint a rare exception to the norm.  I commend the Officials who have proposed new more humane rules.  I urge their adoption.