Pregnant women are often treated terribly while in Texas jails, according to a revealing new story in The Texas Observer. Since 1980, the number of incarcerated women in the U.S. has quadrupled. But jails and prisons have often neglected the needs of pregnant inmates. 300 to 500 pregnant women are booked into Texas county jails each month. Dozens gave birth while in custody last year. These inmates reported not getting enough food, experiencing back pain from uncomfortable sleeping mats, and feeling mistreated and disrespected by guards.
One woman in a Travis County jail said she was shackled to her hospital bed while delivering her baby. Services for pregnant women vary wildly depending on a county jail’s budget and the availability of medical providers.
Unfortunately, many of these stories are never known unless a formal complaint is filed. Activists are pushing for better treatment of pregnant inmates.
