More than half the states in this country allow the practice of shackling incarcerated women during childbirth.
Obstetricians recognize that women in labor need to be able to freely move and assume various positions during birthing, and that to restrain or shackle renders a mother and her child more vulnerable to complications. During the final stages of labor it is especially important for the physician to act quickly in order to avoid potentially life-threatening emergencies for both the baby and mother.
Shackles severely limit this ability and add an unacceptable and unnecessary threat to the survival of the child and mother. Additionally, the vast majority of women are nonviolent offenders and the physical and mental burdens of childbirth mean that women present almost no security or flight risk at that time. In fact, since similar legislation passed in other states starting over a decade ago, there have been absolutely no instances of violence or flight.
We should not tolerate this barbaric practice that affects both mothers and their children. Under no circumstances should leg irons or handcuffs or belly chains be used on any pregnant woman who is in labor, delivery or recovery.
I join Grassroots Leadership in its support of putting an end to the practice of shackling incarcerated and detained women during childbirth.
Stephanie Gray, TX, 76450
Greg Bereiter, IL, 60119
Jason Lopresto, Texas, 78641
Sarah Breau, Texas, 78759
Austin Steele, FL, 32819
Nicholas Price, nc, 28120
Ana Vega, Texas, 78741
Maryanna Price, MD, 21102
paula marberger, PA, 17901
Trent Ramsey, Massachusetts, 02176
Rebecca Swope, PA, 17224
Laura Whitehorn, NY, 10040
xxxxxxxx, Florida, 32605
Alex Krafchek, VA, 22204
Louise Ritchie, Florida, 32312
mary w mulley, az, 85622
Theodore Wright, Washington, 98122
Robert Langston, Texas, 78201
xxxxxxxx, IN, 47872
Rachel Braun, New York, 11755
Jean Stockdale, NJ, 08904
xxxxxxxx, Oregon, 97219
SOCORRO RAMOS-AVILES, TEXAS, 77073
xxxxxxxx, Michigan, 48197
xxxxxxxx, CA, 95670
Rev. Michael Piazza, GA, 30306
V Tepley, Ohio, 43221
Peter Tepley, Alabama, 35217
Vicki Sullivan, Oregon, 97217
Margarita McAuliffe, texas, 78247
Brenda Riley, Alaska, 99707
Teresa Stevens, California, 94602
Heidi Combs-Janda, Virginia, 22304
xxxxxxxx, Oregon, 97213
Donald Cavanaugh, FL, 33461
Rich Kowalewski, Florida, 333.4
MaryEllen Kersch, TX, 78626
janet cohen, tx, 77551
xxxxxxxx, NM, 87504
Sara Evans, Minnesota, 55108
mohamed el amine benmouaz, chlef algérie, 02000
xxxxxxxx, NY, 10453
Catherine Tyerman, ,
Allison Glass, TN, 38104
Liz Clayton, WA, 98109
Katrine Jensen, NC, 28804
xxxxxxxx, Tennessee, 37130
Bob Rankin, TX, 78749
xxxxxxxx, TN, 37216
Madeleine Bolton, Texas, 78705
Erin Winslow, NC, 28205
Neil Ospina, NC, 28209
Alanna Stewart, Tennessee, 38112
Andrew Claycomb, TX, 78704
Mary E. Hunt, MD, 20910
Cathleen M. Rooks, Florida, 33543
anne boyte, georgia, 30033
Megan McElhaney, OH, 44319
samantha phong, tx, 78738
Sarah Combs, NC, 28262
Mark Ready, Missouri, 65804
Elizabeth Williams, VA, 22307
Maria Clark, FL, 33143
Jon Olsen, Maine, 04348
Sarah Price, Utah, 84118
Mary Lou Brncik, AZ, 85086
Relda Copning, WV, 25313
Juan Guerra, Texas, 77011
Roxana Marroquin, NJ, 07093
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Jayne Evert, Colorado, 80122
xxxxxxxx, tx, 76048
Charlie Shin, TX, 78705
Cora Hayes, VA, 23223
Jenny Davis, NJ, 07302
Hope Mustakim, TX, 76707
Marianna Dorta, NC, 28215
cory skuldt, texas , 78721
P. Bryan Ferguson, LVN/CHPLN, TX, 78154
Donna Red Wing, CO, 80439
jay keller, Maryland, 20912
Bob Libal, Tx, 78756
Carol Sawyer, NC, 28205