NCJ Number
127978
Date Published
1988
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This letter from a representative of the Federal Defender Services Unit of the Legal Aid Society of the Eastern District of New York State to a sentencing judge in the U.S. District Court identifies issues that should be considered in the sentencing of a pregnant woman.
Abstract
The letter focuses on the likelihood that a pregnant woman will receive inadequate prenatal care in a Federal prison. The letter notes that although existing figures show no statistical difference between the mortality rates of infants born within Federal prisons compared to those born outside, the Federal Defender Services Unit is still waiting to receive figures on the number of miscarriages that occur in prison. Various studies report that pregnant inmates do not receive special treatment from prison staff, and some studies indicate they are treated more harshly than other inmates. There are no guidelines for the management of pregnant inmates in Federal correctional facilities. Traditional prenatal medical care is not sufficient, given that women inmates are likely to have high-risk pregnancies due to their backgrounds of poor health care and substance abuse. There is a serious question as to whether Federal correctional institutions operate under guidelines and practices that will ensure adequate prenatal care for pregnant inmates. The letter advises that a determination should be made on this issue before sentencing Janet Williams, a pregnant offender.