Limiting Use of Shackles on Incarcerated Pregnant Women

Pregnant women, the majority of whom are in for non-violent and non-serious offenses, are frequently shackled by the ankles, wrists, belly, and even to another person while being transported to and from a correctional facility.

 The incidence of minor trauma, especially falls, increases as pregnancy progresses and excessive shackling poses undue health risks to a woman throughout her pregnancy. Accordingly, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists opposes the use of shackles on pregnant women in all but the most extreme circumstances.

The use of shackles prohibits doctors from treating women with such potentially fatal conditions as pre-eclampsya which is frequently suffered by pregnant women

In 2008, Federal law (42 USC §17501) prohibited shackling of pregnant prisoners in federal facilities for all but the most extreme cases.


Costs to implement regulations are minimal as any regulatory changes will be incorporated in the routine regulatory review cycle of the entities involved.


AB 568 protects the safety of pregnant women and protects counties and the state from potential liability by requiring that pregnant women be restrained in the least restrictive way possible, consistent with the legitimate security needs of each woman.