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A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 14 March 2019
States weigh bans on shackling jailed moms during childbirth

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Mi- practice is hard to stamp
chelle Aldana gave birth to out, said Lauryn King, a
her first child chained to a public-policy Ph.D. student
hospital bed. at The George Washington
Then serving time at the University who completed
Utah state prison on a a state-by-state analysis of
drug charge, she says she laws on the topic.
labored through the diffi- "What are the odds that
cult 2001 birth for nearly 30 without specific training,
hours, her ankles bleeding your average correc-
as the shackles on both her tions officer knows every
legs and one arm dug in. "I policy?" she said. In New
felt like a farm animal," she York, for example, a report
says. found the practice contin-
The practice of keeping ued even after a law was
inmates shackled during passed.
childbirth was once com- In Wisconsin, a woman said
mon around the United in a lawsuit she was shack-
States, but that's gradually led with a chain so short
been changing after wom- that she couldn't reach the
en began speaking out, stirrups during labor in Feb-
with 22 states passing laws In this Feb. 27, 2019, photo, Michelle Aldana is shown at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. ruary 2014. Tennessee and
against it over the past two Associated Press Arkansas have faced simi-
decades. lar lawsuits and are weigh-
Utah and at least three mental issue of dignity," during medical treatment Still, some have raised safe- ing bans on the practice
other states are consider- said Democratic state Rep. for safety, said Amy Fettig, ty concerns. In Utah, Re- this year, along with South
ing joining them this year, Stephanie Pitcher, who is deputy director of the Na- publican Rep. Eric Hutchins Carolina.
after the federal govern- sponsoring the Utah mea- tional Prison Project at the has pointed out that violent In Utah, Aldana was bloody
ment recently banned the sure. "A woman deserves ACLU. incidents happen often in and sore after her tough la-
practice with a sweeping dignity in childbirth." But childbirth is different, state prisons, and hospitals bor, which also left her with
criminal justice reform law. Though the state prison she said. Preventing a have far less built-in secu- a broken pelvis from the
Many other states have changed its official policy woman from moving dur- rity. pressure of the baby. She
policies against shackling, to prohibit shackling in ing labor increases the risk He ultimately voted in fa- was released a month af-
but advocates say that 2015, Pitcher has heard of potentially life-threaten- vor of the bill, which does ter her son was born, and
without a law it's harder to from a number of Utah ing health risks inherent in allow some shackling dur- in the years since she's re-
stop a practice they con- doctors who have treat- childbirth, like blood clots. ing transportation and the covered and become a
demn as dangerous and ed incarcerated women It also makes it harder to use of soft restraints if an in- substance abuse counsel-
inhumane. having babies in shackles, move her if there is an mate is documented to be or. Now pregnant with her
Women are America's fast- some as recently as this emergency, or feed the dangerous. Prison officials third child, she still suffers
growing segment of pris- year. Her bill, which would baby after it's born. are also in support, and say with anxiety about child-
oners. The American Civil apply to both the prison Meanwhile, the physical their policy change means birth but said a law against
Liberties Union estimates and local jails, passed the conditions of labor make women like Aldana are shackling would be a relief.
about 12,000 pregnant state House and is being escape attempts unlikely, treated differently today. "I just don't think any wom-
women are incarcerated considered by the Senate. and there are no docu- Most other states without an, when they're that vul-
in U.S. jails or prisons each The practice is an out- mented cases of a woman laws against shackling do nerable, should ever be
year. growth of policies requiring getting away while having have policies in place, but treated that way," she said.
"For me, it's just a funda- all prisoners to be restrained a child, Fettig said. without strict controls, the "It's just wrong."q

Alaska poised to let people use marijuana at certain stores

the first state in the nation be freestanding. Association, said recently.
with statewide rules allow- Supporters of onsite mari- "There's a lot riding on this."
ing people to use marijua- juana use see it as a way The regulations take effect
na at certain stores where to provide tourists with a April 11, but there will be
they buy it. place to partake. Summer a lag before people can
Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer this is tourist season in Alaska, smoke or consume mari-
week signed and filed rules with cruise ship passengers juana edibles at stores.
for the use of recreational stopping in communities Alaska's marijuana regu-
marijuana at authorized such as Juneau. latory board must vet all
pot shops. But industry officials also applications, and its next
They allow marijuana use know there will be a lot of meeting is in early May.
in special sections of stores attention paid to how on- That's not enough turn-
that are separated from site use takes shape in the around time for businesses
the retail area by walls and state. to have their applications
a secure door, or outdoors. "Outside of being a test ready for review, said Erika
In this Feb. 20, 2015, file photo, Alaska Cannabis Club CEO
Charlo Greene prepares to roll a joint at the medical marijuana Shops allowing for onsite model for the rest of the McConnell, director of the
dispensary in Anchorage, Alaska. use are to be freestanding, U.S., we're also going to Alcohol and Marijuana
Associated Press though an area seen as be trying to do it right for Control Office. The dead-
open for further discussion ourselves," Cary Carrigan, line for meeting materials is
By BECKY BOHRER JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — is whether shops that don't executive director of the April 12.q
Associated Press Alaska is poised to become want to allow smoking must Alaska Marijuana Industry