Since 2009, New York has prohibited the shackling of detainees who are about to or are giving birth, as well as immediately after delivery. (Representational Image)
New York, United States:
Pregnant prisoners in New York state will no longer be shackled while in transit, a move hailed by rights groups that describe physically restricting expectant mothers as "dangerous and inhumane."
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the law on Tuesday, which also prohibits women from being shackled while traveling for eight weeks after delivery.
"These common sense reforms strike the right balance that protect the health and dignity of a pregnant inmate, while also addressing public safety concerns," Cuomo said in a statement.
The new law also prohibits correctional staff from being present in the delivery room, except at the request of the medical team or pregnant inmate.
Since 2009, New York has prohibited the shackling of detainees who are about to or are giving birth, as well as immediately after delivery.
The American Medical Association has said that restricting pregnant women, whether with handcuffs, shackles or straps, is "hazardous" and "barbaric," while the American Civil Liberties Union has called the practice "dangerous and inhumane."
Nonetheless, shackling of pregnant women remains widespread, and more than half of US states have no laws restricting the practice, including during delivery, according to the Correctional Association of New York nonprofit.
In a report published in February, the NGO said that New York's 2009 law prohibiting shackling during labor had not been fully enforced, with some prisoners remaining restrained in the delivery room.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the law on Tuesday, which also prohibits women from being shackled while traveling for eight weeks after delivery.
"These common sense reforms strike the right balance that protect the health and dignity of a pregnant inmate, while also addressing public safety concerns," Cuomo said in a statement.
The new law also prohibits correctional staff from being present in the delivery room, except at the request of the medical team or pregnant inmate.
Since 2009, New York has prohibited the shackling of detainees who are about to or are giving birth, as well as immediately after delivery.
The American Medical Association has said that restricting pregnant women, whether with handcuffs, shackles or straps, is "hazardous" and "barbaric," while the American Civil Liberties Union has called the practice "dangerous and inhumane."
Nonetheless, shackling of pregnant women remains widespread, and more than half of US states have no laws restricting the practice, including during delivery, according to the Correctional Association of New York nonprofit.
In a report published in February, the NGO said that New York's 2009 law prohibiting shackling during labor had not been fully enforced, with some prisoners remaining restrained in the delivery room.
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