🔗 Share this article Bound, Isolated and Terrified: The Harsh Situation for Female Prisoners Compelled to Deliver in Prison. An advocate, at 35 weeks pregnant, was arrested near her residence in March 2024. Accused with a broad allegation, she was held lacking proof. Three weeks later, her family received a call to retrieve the body of her newborn baby. The cause of death remains unexamined, and the family does not know the circumstances or whether she obtained any postnatal care. A Worldwide Problem Cases such as this are alarmingly common in detention centers around the world. Pregnant women are often held in appalling situations and denied medical attention. Some miscarry, others begin childbirth and have their babies by themselves in a prison cell. Devastatingly, some babies die in custody. "Countries assume it’s a few of women so it’s not a problem, but that is incorrect," states a legal advocate dedicated to female imprisonment. "Detention is not a good environment for women, not to mention someone who is pregnant," she adds. "There’s so much research that indicates how damaging it is. Most facilities were designed with men in mind, so women were an afterthought." Ignored Global Standards It has been 15 years since the adoption of international guidelines for the treatment of female prisoners. These guidelines state that incarceration should be a final option for pregnant women and that non-custodial sentences should always be considered. Furthermore, they ban the use of restraints on women during labour. Yet, these rules are routinely ignored around the world. "This is not viewed as a global priority for women's rights," argues the expert. "It’s not visible, and there’s a lot of stigma and prejudice." Dire Situations in Overcrowded Systems In certain nations, conditions for expectant inmates are described as "really critical". Contact with relatives have been banned, and independent monitors are barred from entry. Interviews with formerly incarcerated women reveal assaults, torture, and being denied basic supplies. Reports indicate some resort to trading sex with prison staff for nourishment or medicine. "Our organisation has recorded pregnancy losses and the loss of several infants … it is certain there are more," says a local lawyer. It is also reported women who were shackled to medical beds during labour and delivered while watched by male prison guards. Severe Overpopulation and Its Impact Statistics lists some nations as having the most severe overcrowding levels in the globe. Women are particularly vulnerable to these conditions. "There is rarely enough space to lie down properly," explains a human rights outreach director. "There exists a persistent lack of access to basic items." Expectant inmates have been handcuffed to beds prior to delivery. The environment for caring for an infant upon return in prison are worrying, as evidenced by reports of infants dying from pneumonia and malnourishment behind bars. Accounts from Around the Globe In Zambia, a past prisoner recalls being in a cell with expectant mothers. Doors were locked overnight. If a woman went into labour at night, the women were left to fend for themselves. "We begged. Others were asking for divine help. Others were banging on the ground and the gates, screaming: ‘Please come, somebody’s in labour!’" Such events also happen in more developed nations. For example, a young woman lost her daughter after giving birth alone in a prison cell. Her pleas for assistance were ignored for an extended period, and she was had to bite through the cord on her own. Turning Trauma into Change A number of survivors have decided to use their traumatic ordeals to instigate change. In the US, a woman who lost her pregnancy in her prison cell set up an organisation. She has successfully advocated for legislation that prohibit restraints and isolation for expectant inmates in numerous jurisdictions. A separate account comes from South America. A woman discovered she was pregnant shortly after being given a prison term. When it came time to give birth, officers chained her legs to the hospital bed. Hospital staff performed a caesarean section. As she recovered, they suggested to perform sterilization. "Why would you want to have more children, if you’re a inmate?" they asked. "My ordeal was obstetric violence. What I experienced should never have happened, but this is what women in prison endure," she stated. Her experiences later shaped provincial policies around childbirth in detention. Potential Reforms Some nations have implemented policies regarding pregnant women in the legal system. These include: Evaluating alternatives to detention for defendants who are mothers, pregnant, or breastfeeding. Implementing home detention as an option to being held before trial, particularly for pregnant women. Allowing for the postponement of prison terms for pregnant women. Experts and those who have been incarcerated contend that, often, pregnant women should not be in prison at all. "I question whether women should be criminalised for numerous offenses in the first place," argues the advocate. "Alternatives in the community that tackle the underlying reasons of women entering the justice system – for example, destitution, abuse and drugs – are really what we should be investing in."