Practice of Shackling Pregnant Prisoners in Labor is Terminated

by KYW’s Kim Glovas

The Federal government recently introduced a new policy which outlaws the shackling of female prisoners giving birth. It turns out Philadelphia implemented a similar pilot policy in June.

The Maternity Care Coalition is the agency which pressed the Philadelphia prison system to look at this draconian policy of shackling women prisoners during birth. Deputy director Bette Begleiter says the coalition worked with the prison system to make the change:

"Now we have rules that say once a woman is in active labor, there are no restraints on her, and in fact after she has the baby, we're able to keep them off for a short time, so she can bond with the baby, so she can breastfeed, so we are very happy about this change."

In addition, the coalition is providing doulas, women who assist the inmate mothers after birth. The coalition also follows the mothers back into the community upon their release from prison and helps them in the nurturing and caring of their infants.