STOP SHACKLING PREGNANT PRISONERS!
Target:
Prison Activists, Women's Rights, Anti-Torture, Human Rights, Everyone
Sponsored by:
The horrific practice of shackling pregnant prisoners must be halted immediately.
The horrific practice of shackling pregnant prisoners must be halted immediately.
Gov. David A. PatersonExecutive ChamberState Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
RE: NYS 1290
Dear Gov. Paterson,
The horrific practice of shackling pregnant prisoners must be halted immediately.
Meghan Road recently wrote that:
"Pregnant women who are shackled are at risk of injury during transportation to medical appointments, can suffer added pain during delivery, and may be deprived of appropriate care during examinations and delivery.
Officials from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have opposed shackling on the basis that 'physical restraints have interfered with the ability of physicians to safely practice medicine by reducing their ability to assess and evaluate the physical condition of the mother and the fetus ... thus, overall putting the lives of women and unborn children at risk.'
The risks are heightened by the fact that the pregnancies of women in custody are usually already high-risk because of their past medical histories, which can include substance abuse and limited access to prenatal care. In addition, the humiliation brought on by the shackling is inflicted on women who often have already suffered sexual or physical violence.'"
Proclaiming that a woman in the midst of giving birth could constitute a flight risk would be laughable if it weren't actually occurring. Treating these women so barbarically agitates underlying issues of mental and physical instability which could lead to premature deaths, damaged infants, torn and mutilated mothers, and rivals the torture practices being actively debated today.
Gov. Paterson, do the right thing and desist this abhorrent practice immediately. We are all entitled to human dignity.
Sincerely,
Albany, NY 12224
RE: NYS 1290
Dear Gov. Paterson,
The horrific practice of shackling pregnant prisoners must be halted immediately.
Meghan Road recently wrote that:
"Pregnant women who are shackled are at risk of injury during transportation to medical appointments, can suffer added pain during delivery, and may be deprived of appropriate care during examinations and delivery.
Officials from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have opposed shackling on the basis that 'physical restraints have interfered with the ability of physicians to safely practice medicine by reducing their ability to assess and evaluate the physical condition of the mother and the fetus ... thus, overall putting the lives of women and unborn children at risk.'
The risks are heightened by the fact that the pregnancies of women in custody are usually already high-risk because of their past medical histories, which can include substance abuse and limited access to prenatal care. In addition, the humiliation brought on by the shackling is inflicted on women who often have already suffered sexual or physical violence.'"
Proclaiming that a woman in the midst of giving birth could constitute a flight risk would be laughable if it weren't actually occurring. Treating these women so barbarically agitates underlying issues of mental and physical instability which could lead to premature deaths, damaged infants, torn and mutilated mothers, and rivals the torture practices being actively debated today.
Gov. Paterson, do the right thing and desist this abhorrent practice immediately. We are all entitled to human dignity.
Sincerely,
We signed the "STOP SHACKLING PREGNANT PRISONERS!" petition!
# 235:
9:19 am PST, Dec 3,
Alexandra Lotsch, New York
# 234:
12:01 pm PST, Dec 2,
Erandy Ramirez, Mexico
I think people who do this to a woman in labour have very serious mental and emotional problems. They should not be allowed to have any kind of power over others if they can do this to a person who is in no condition to even walk away. Would have they done this to a female relative in the same situation? I think they only do it to give way to all their hate. Why is it that people like this can torture with impunity? Those who make this law should also have been very twisted people.
I think people who do this to a woman in labour have very serious mental and emotional problems. They should not be allowed to have any kind of power over others if they can do this to a person who is in no condition to even walk away. Would have they done this to a female relative in the same situation? I think they only do it to give way to all their hate. Why is it that people like this can torture with impunity? Those who make this law should also have been very twisted people.
# 233:
11:52 am PST, Dec 2,
Name not displayed, Texas
# 232:
8:57 am PST, Dec 2,
Gloria Bell, Arizona
# 231:
8:53 am PST, Dec 2,
Dorlee Henderson, Arizona
No women is going to attempt to escape while giving birth! This is cruel and unusual punishment. Obviously, this policy was put in place by men who have never experienced childbirth. This is horrific, shocking, and just plain wrong!!
No women is going to attempt to escape while giving birth! This is cruel and unusual punishment. Obviously, this policy was put in place by men who have never experienced childbirth. This is horrific, shocking, and just plain wrong!!
The shackling of pregnant prisoners is not only unconstitutional but a violation of basic human rights.
# 230:
6:27 am PST, Dec 2,
Irene L. Parks, Florida
This is the most disgusting thing I've heard of in a long time. Obviously this sheriff hates women. i wish he could trade places with her and go thru the torture of having a baby while shackled. What a piece of slime he is.
This is the most disgusting thing I've heard of in a long time. Obviously this sheriff hates women. i wish he could trade places with her and go thru the torture of having a baby while shackled. What a piece of slime he is.
# 229:
5:17 am PST, Dec 2,
Marg Bamford, Puerto Rico
This practice could cause death or injury to both mother and child by delaying medical treatment. In labor it can be hard to breath, you are in great pain. It helps to be able to move. It's also important to be able to bond for the mother and baby.
This practice could cause death or injury to both mother and child by delaying medical treatment. In labor it can be hard to breath, you are in great pain. It helps to be able to move. It's also important to be able to bond for the mother and baby.
# 228:
4:13 am PST, Dec 2,
Ingeborg Kooiman, Netherlands
Shackling a woman while giving birth has nothing to do with punishment, it's torture! And it must be stopped!
Shackling a woman while giving birth has nothing to do with punishment, it's torture! And it must be stopped!
# 227:
11:28 pm PST, Dec 1,
Dominic Chan, Malaysia
Stop Shackling Pregnant Detainees/Prisoners
Stop Shackling Pregnant Detainees/Prisoners
Offer Care & Love
# 226:
9:02 pm PST, Dec 1,
Jennifer Timmons, Maryland
# 225:
3:38 pm PST, Nov 22,
Gail Steinbaugh, Arizona
# 224:
10:25 pm PST, Nov 20,
Stacey Salvaggio, Arizona
# 223:
7:00 pm PST, Nov 20,
Lindsay Monchamp, Arizona
# 222:
8:07 am PST, Nov 2,
Stephanie Dias, California
# 221:
1:01 pm PDT, Oct 15,
Carole Hagen, Oregon
# 220:
5:23 am PDT, Sep 12,
Marianne Mattinson, United Kingdom
# 219:
3:38 am PDT, Sep 9,
Anna Davin, United Kingdom
# 218:
2:18 am PDT, Sep 9,
Ruth Balogh, United Kingdom
Shackling women while pregnant, and even worse, when giving birth, is an appalling act of cruelty not only to the woman but to another completely innocent human being about to enter the world.
Shackling women while pregnant, and even worse, when giving birth, is an appalling act of cruelty not only to the woman but to another completely innocent human being about to enter the world.
# 217:
10:39 pm PDT, Sep 8,
Elizabeth Belflower, Alabama
# 216:
8:21 am PDT, Aug 28,
Callum Laggan, Denmark
Have You Barbaric People Who Thought Up The Idea of Shackling a Pregnant Women Never Had A Mother ? Were Do you Get Your Thoughts & Ideas about Humanity From . All You Need Is Love, Try It Love Works Best
Have You Barbaric People Who Thought Up The Idea of Shackling a Pregnant Women Never Had A Mother ? Were Do you Get Your Thoughts & Ideas about Humanity From . All You Need Is Love, Try It Love Works Best
# 215:
5:22 am PDT, Aug 26,
Loreen Partlow, Michigan
The morals of a society that allows such practices is despicable and A Country is only as great as it treats the (weak and/or defenseless) least of its citizens...Women and the unborn qualify to me and this Country is no longer great as such and all who allow this have no honor!
The morals of a society that allows such practices is despicable and A Country is only as great as it treats the (weak and/or defenseless) least of its citizens...Women and the unborn qualify to me and this Country is no longer great as such and all who allow this have no honor!
Stop wasting my money and the taxpayer's on non-violent crimes by Women... in truth Stop incarcerating so many non-violent criminals as C.A.P.P.S. ( Citizens Alliance on Prisons & Public Spending) and other studies, research and documentation has shown that this practice is no deterrent or solution to non-violent crime besides the exorbitant costs. See or refer to C.A.P.P.S. A ten-point plan to reduce corrections Spending in 2010. Principle:Reserve Prison Beds for Violent Offenders. The 10-point plan for Michigan is a fine example of many solutions to our country's current Prison and Prisoner problems and the D.O.C.'s and the Judicial systems outrageous costs and the public's expense.
# 214:
8:58 pm PDT, Aug 25,
K Simpson-williams, Georgia
# 213:
5:49 pm PDT, Aug 25,
Michelle Miller, Indiana
This is horrific and needs to stop. It is extremely cruel and not at all beneficial to shackle birthing mothers! To the contrary I would think it would increase labor time and complications for both the mother and child. As a mother I am absolutely horrified at the thought of this. Please end this practice and place a ban on shackling non-violent women who are in the birthing process. *mother of two beautiful boys (2 & 4yrs)
This is horrific and needs to stop. It is extremely cruel and not at all beneficial to shackle birthing mothers! To the contrary I would think it would increase labor time and complications for both the mother and child. As a mother I am absolutely horrified at the thought of this. Please end this practice and place a ban on shackling non-violent women who are in the birthing process. *mother of two beautiful boys (2 & 4yrs)
# 212:
4:09 pm PDT, Aug 25,
Betty Beck, Iowa
This is inhuman. It is stressful enough giving birth without chains attached. Only a committee of women haters could have come up with this practice.
This is inhuman. It is stressful enough giving birth without chains attached. Only a committee of women haters could have come up with this practice.
# 211:
9:21 am PDT, Aug 25,
Name not displayed, California
Yes
Yes
Yes
# 209:
2:15 pm PDT, Aug 13,
Michael Haggerty, Texas
This practice is a gross example of man's inhumanity to women ..and follows in the tradition of the rapes in the Congo, rape and murder of enslaved African women
This practice is a gross example of man's inhumanity to women ..and follows in the tradition of the rapes in the Congo, rape and murder of enslaved African women
# 208:
9:11 am PDT, Aug 7,
Fatima Grace Lacanilao, RN, MSN, Philippines
when i was in undergraduate studies, i was able to have a research regarding the lived experiences of incarcerated intrapartum women. one of the focus of the research is the physical aspect of women who are shackled during labor and delivery.
when i was in undergraduate studies, i was able to have a research regarding the lived experiences of incarcerated intrapartum women. one of the focus of the research is the physical aspect of women who are shackled during labor and delivery.
I've read legislative bills of states of America regarding the issue of shackling an inmate while in labor and delivery. i was shocked when i found out that there isn't any act or bill in my own country which could help eliminate the practice of shackling pregnant inmates. now, i'm proposing a policy paper regarding the issue. i hope that the house of representatives in our country would be able to see and feel the pain of being shackled when someone is supposed to be happy for experiencing childbirth.
# 207:
10:45 am PDT, Aug 5,
Ga-Nesha Hamilton, Nevada
# 206:
11:41 am PDT, Aug 4,
Roger Drew, New York
How backwards is our "justice system" that we even NEED a petition for this topic? It seems like many in our country have lost our way and i fear for our path...
How backwards is our "justice system" that we even NEED a petition for this topic? It seems like many in our country have lost our way and i fear for our path...
# 205:
4:52 pm PDT, Aug 3,
Maureen Flansburg, Nevada
This practice is beyond cruel.
This practice is beyond cruel.
# 204:
11:52 am PDT, Aug 2,
Leigh Lavoie, Canada
Shackling women during child birth is the most horendous thing I've ever heard of. Ask any woman in the corrections department if they agree with this. It is inhumane. How can the medical staff deliver a baby under these cicumstances? And look at themselves in the mirror. This is so wrong. These woman are human, they had lives before being incarcerated. And they have family and loved ones as well. Stop this practice immediately or there will be more deaths within the correction department.
Shackling women during child birth is the most horendous thing I've ever heard of. Ask any woman in the corrections department if they agree with this. It is inhumane. How can the medical staff deliver a baby under these cicumstances? And look at themselves in the mirror. This is so wrong. These woman are human, they had lives before being incarcerated. And they have family and loved ones as well. Stop this practice immediately or there will be more deaths within the correction department.
# 203:
10:55 am PDT, Aug 2,
Michelle Ravell, Nevada
When will Amnesty International take up this cause? What a disgusting and inhumane practice, right here in the land of the free. Can we still call ourselves the watchdog on human rights when we allow these types of practices go on?
When will Amnesty International take up this cause? What a disgusting and inhumane practice, right here in the land of the free. Can we still call ourselves the watchdog on human rights when we allow these types of practices go on?
# 202:
10:29 am PDT, Aug 2,
Lawrence Rider, Nevada
# 201:
9:13 am PDT, Aug 2,
Donna Metcalf, Nevada
