Essay - Pregnancy and Prisons Carolyn Lindsey Was Four Months Pregnant When...

Pregnancy and Prisons

***** Lindsey was four months pregnant when she was incarcerated in a Texas prison for violating the terms of her probation on a drug charge. When she gave birth, Carolyn had a minute to coo at her daughter's tiny face be*****e a prison guard whisked little Desiree Nicole away (Tomaso, "Pregnant Inmates").

***** is part of a disturbing national trend - a rising number of pregnant inmates giving ***** in **********. In 1999, a prison survey conducted for ***** American Correctional Association found that more than 2,800 babies were born to female ***** in from 1997-1999 (Willing, "Babies Behind Bars").

***** federal ***** alone, statistics ***** the Bureau of Justice show that in 1998, ***** latest year ***** data is available, there were over 103 pregnant female inmates (ACLU, "Statistics Relating ***** Women..."). An estimated 13,000 women, typically young and unwed, are pregnant upon incarceration (Tomaso).

Most ***** inmates are in jail relat*****g to drug *****s. As har*****r drug measures mete out sentences for even non-violent **********, the number of pregnant women in prisons is expected to rise.

***** a pregnant woman like Carolyn L*****dsey enters prison, the Bureau of Prisons provides an OBGYN examination and all her pre-natal and post-partum care. If a ***** inmate seeks ***** terminate a pregnancy, an abortion will be provided by the state (ACLU). Most inmates give birth in the prison infirmary or a nearby hospital.

In Texas, where Carolyn is incarcerated, as well ***** a maj*****ity of *****s, there are no provisions for keeping babies and incarcerated mothers together. After birth, the child is usu*****y turned over to a relative, if a ***** ********** ***** provide c***** until ***** mother ***** released. ***** no relative is available, the infant ***** placed in foster care ***** ***** mother is free and can seek custody. Finally, if the mother agrees, the baby can be put up for adoption (Tomaso).

***** experts recognize that th***** is not the ideal setting for both mothers and infants. Leslie Acoca, director of the ***** and Girls Institute at the N*****ional Council on Crime and Delinquency, believes this to be a shortcoming ***** ***** ***** system unprepared for female pris*****ers, saying, "The system is set up ***** deal with male inmates, ***** pregnant ***** parenting female inmate" (Tomaso).

This lack of understanding for the needs ***** female prisoners is manifested in the practice of shackl*****g the legs of female prisoners in labor. Shackl*****g the ***** together is a standard ***** used when a prisoner is taken out of the facility, to pr*****t flight. However, a woman in labor needs mobility to assume the positions required ***** facilitate birth. Furthermore, shackles could cause dangerous complications for the *****. After protests concerned groups, the Department of Corrections ***** now review*****g its policy of shackling ***** ***** (Legal Aid Advocates, "Shackles...").

***** there is a tendency to dismiss the ***** of female prisoners on the grounds that they are criminals, this view does nothing to address the needs of their