Yesterday, the Virginia Department of Corrections announced that it will adopt regulations banning restraints on pregnant inmates during labor, delivery, and a recovery period following the delivery. The regulations specify that handcuffs may only be used during transport and additional restraints may be used in cases where the woman may harm herself or others, but in these cases, the woman must still be able to stand, walk, and roll over.
The American Medical Association, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Virginia Chapter of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Legal Aid Justice Center, ACLU of Virginia, NARAL Pro-Choice-Virginia, Planned Parenthood-Virginia, VA CURE, and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture expressed their support for the Department of Corrections’ new regulations.
