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| PA. Top Grade-Care of Pregnant Inmates |
| By post-gazette.com |
| Published: 10/21/2010 |
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HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania prisons are the best in the nation when it comes to treatment of pregnant inmates, according to a report released today. The National Women's Law Center and Rebecca Project for Human Rights analyzed policies related to prenatal care, shackling of women during childbirth and alternatives to incarceration that allow mothers to be with their children. In state prisons, pregnant inmates receive regular medical exams, lab testing, prenatal vitamins, nutrition counseling, childcare education and post-partum care, said Susan McNaughton, spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections. Pregnant inmates are not shackled during childbirth, but are handcuffed to gurneys during transport to the hospital, Ms. McNaughton said. That has long been the policy in the state prison system, but a new state law now prevents county jails from shackling during childbirth, too. State Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Delaware, introduced the legislation after reading about a shackled Philadelphia County inmate who was injured during childbirth. "I knew we had to make a change and we did. It was a rare victory for human rights in Pennsylvania, which is not always on the forefront of socially progressive legislation," Mr. Leach said. Even lawmakers who normally take a hard line on corrections supported the bill, he said. "They realized there is an innocent child just being born who is being placed at risk," he said. Ms. McNaughton said the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections strives to provide proper care for all inmates, and that pregnant women and mothers have unique needs. "We understand that our inmates are human beings, that they are parents. We've made major strides over the years in trying to make all our visiting rooms have very nice children's areas that are set up almost like a home environment." She said the department encourages caregivers to bring children to visit. Parents -- other than sex offenders -- are allowed to hold their children during the visit, she said. "It must be very difficult for a little child to go into this institutional setting to visit with their parents," she said. "We take that very seriously." According to the report, other states lack comprehensive policies to limit restraints during labor and to provide proper pre-natal care. The purpose of the report was to encourage accountability and consistency in the treatment of incarcerated mothers, said Jill Morrison, co-author of the report and senior counsel at the law center. The use of shackles during childbirth has abated in part because of individual women who've taken a stand against the practice after enduring it, Ms. Morrison said. Among them is Shawanna Nelson, 37, of Little Rock, Ark., who was shackled to a hospital bed while giving birth to her son in 2003 when she was serving time for credit card fraud. Read More. |
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