Action | Amend Minimum Standards for Jails and Lockups to add requirements on restraint of pregnant offenders |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 9/27/2013 |
Please protect innocent newborns whose mothers are imprisoned. Please don't make newborns suffer in any way as a result of their mothers' wrong-doing. Treating these newborns gently and lovingly from their first moments is a wonderful way to start a tny one off on the right foot, and could easily serve to help in the reform of the mother.
On a purely practical medical note, restraining pregnant women is a dangerous practice that can result in injury to the mother and trauma to her child. The American Medical Association, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Public Health Association all support limiting the use of restraints for pregnant inmates. I commend the Board for proposing regulations limiting the use of restraints and urge it to make these regulations final. Even if you abhor the behavior of the mothers, please do not visit the punishment on the inftants. Thank you.