Women's Human Rights
Abuse of Women in Custody: Sexual Misconduct and the Shackling of Pregnant Women
Many states fail to adequately protect incarcerated women from sexual misconduct at the hands of corrections staff and allow the dangerous practice of shackling inmates during the third trimester of pregnancy -- including during labor and delivery. The following report examines the current laws, policies and practices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons regarding custodial sexual misconduct (CSM) and the shackling of inmates who are pregnant or giving birth.
- Take Action to Help Stop Shackling of Pregnant Women in Prisons in:
- Policy Guidelines
- An Updated State-by-State Survey of Polices and Practices in the USA
- Introduction
- Key Findings: Legislative Protection
- Key Findings: Policies, Procedures and Practices of Guarding Women
- Key Findings: Use of Restraints on Pregnant Women in Custody
- Women in Custody Issues (pdf format)
- Table 1: Overview of State Laws on Custodial Sexual Misconduct
- Table 2: Responses to AIUSA from State Attorney Generals and Departments of Correction
- Recommendations
- Scope and Methodology
