Healthy Birth Act Unanimously Passes State Senate

From Dee Johnson:

Well, we did it!

Senate Bill 1074, The Healthy Birth of Incarcerated Women Act, sponsored by State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery County), unanimously passed the State Senate on Wednesday, March 17 (50-0).

The Healthy Birth of Incarcerated Women Act will prohibit the practice of shackling pregnant prisoners in Pennsylvania during transport to the hospital and while they are in labor, delivery and recovery. The bill must now pass the House of Representatives.

“This is common sense legislation that clears up an issue that should have been standardized years ago,” Leach said. “To endanger a woman and her unborn child during birth simply because she is under custody of the state is a misguided practice. I am hopeful that my colleagues in the House of Representatives will agree and will send this bill to the governor’s desk quickly.”

Thanks to the many organizations and individuals who worked diligently to ensure that this important measure passed.

WHAT'S NEXT? Please contact your State Representative to express your support. To find your State Representative, click on this link: Who's My State Rep?

Click on this link to watch a BBC Report on Shackling Pregnant Prisoners in Pennsylvania