Changes In Policy Of How Pregnant State Inmates Are Treated

Pregnant state prisoners will no longer be shackled while they are in labor under a new Arkansas Department of Correction policy. Women who are considered risky will be held with soft restraints and all other prisoners will be under the supervision of a guard. Department leaders came to the compromise after meeting with legislators and nonprofit representatives earlier this week. An inmate complained after she was shackled until she was ready to give birth, and the shackles were put back on after her baby was born. Under the new guidelines, the soft restraints would be placed on one wrist and one ankle and would be rotated. They would have to be taken off if medical staff requested and during the final stages of labor. However, inmates who are not considered risky would have to be restrained during transport or while they are in a community facility. A Correction Department memo says the new system is to go into effect as soon as the department buys the new straps.