Incarcerated Women and Maternal Healthcare Crisis - The report highlights a nationwide issue of tragedies involving pregnant women in custody, exacerbated by the lack of a federal tracking system to determine the problem's magnitude [6] - At least 22 states do not track pregnancy outcomes in jail, with some states not recording newborn deaths as they are technically not in custody [7] - NBC News and Bloomberg Law reviewed over 50 lawsuits alleging medical neglect and mistreatment of pregnant women in jail, revealing instances of women delivering babies alone in unsanitary conditions [8] Systemic Failures and Neglect - The report details cases of incarcerated pregnant women being denied or delayed medical care, even when experiencing severe pain and bleeding [10][11] - Jail staff often dismissed pregnant inmates' medical concerns as behavioral issues, leading to tragic outcomes [11] - The report exposes instances where women gave birth in jail cells without medical assistance, sometimes resulting in infant deaths [13] Legal and Policy Implications - Lawsuits filed by affected families sometimes resulted in financial settlements and jail policy reforms, such as compassion training and better medical care for inmates, but without admission of wrongdoing [27][28] - Following the death of a baby born in jail, Kentucky passed a bill enshrining the rights of incarcerated pregnant women, including adequate nutrition, hygiene products, a ban on solitary confinement, and a guaranteed 72-hour infant bonding period [20][21] Support and Advocacy - Dr Althia Taylor's nonprofit operates nurseries in correctional facilities in and around New York City, offering support services to incarcerated pregnant women and allowing babies to live with their mothers for up to a year [24] - The report emphasizes that jails are primarily for detainment, not sentencing, and incarcerated individuals deserve care and dignity [22][23] - The mother of Alisa, who died in custody, has become an advocate for justice and policy change, confronting those she believes were responsible for her daughter's death [29][30]

I thought it would get better, but it it's just it never did. It's inhumane the way that they're keeping their residents. When I got there, it was overwhelming.She shared her state of Florida credential, which lists her position as a corrections officer. They say it was going to be 5 days on, two days off. I was aware that it was going to be the alligator Alcatraz.We had to use the Portage John's. We didn't have hot water half the time. Um, our bathrooms were backed up.It looked like a oversized dog kennel. ...