Lawsuit: Woman shackled while giving birth at Milwaukee jail

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Ivan Moreno, Associated Press Updated 4:08 pm, Thursday, March 16, 2017



MILWAUKEE (AP) — A woman is suing the Milwaukee County jail, alleging that deputies refused to unchain her while she was giving birth because of a jail policy requiring inmates to remain shackled while they're hospitalized, regardless of the circumstances.

The federal lawsuit filed Tuesday seeks class-action status, claiming at least 40 other women experienced similar circumstances at the jail since 2011.

The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to the lawsuit, but generally the county can't comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit contends that 27-year-old Melissa Hall was shackled every time she was hospitalized for pre-natal care, labor, and post-partum treatment during her incarceration in 2013 from February through August. The lawsuit doesn't state why Hall was in jail, and one of her attorneys, Theresa Kleinhaus, said she could not say.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Lawsuit-Woman-shackled-during-pregnancy-at-11007367.php

[Archae]

1. Same jerks who let a woman give birth in a cell...

They laughed at her cries for help, and her baby died.

You know who is in charge of this jail?

"Sheriff" Clarke, Milwaukee's Joe Arpaio wannabe.

[procon]

2. Isn't this a Human Rights Violation? nt

[KT2000]

3. what sick sick deputies

I suppose they put their worst sadists on this particular job.

[FarPoint]

4. She is an escape risk...

It's a standard for safety ...I don't agrue their rationale. Let's go into the "What if she escaped and injured/harmed another patient, nurse, physician or officer...Who is going to be blammed for the lack of safety practice and get sued?

[RobinA]

7. Phooey,

most of the time it's a power play. I work on a forensic situation. They shackle shoplifters. They shackle people who can barely walk. Disgusting.

[FarPoint]

9. I know it's an unpopular standard of practice ...

I stand with safety every time.

[DK504]

5. What do these jackasses think she's going to do?

Get up as the baby is crowning and run away?

Is there a word stronger than moron?

[Rincewind]

6. Yes, Republican. nt.

[riversedge]

8. The Sheriff is Sheriff pitchfork David Clarke--4 inmantes died in his jails last year!!....

http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Lawsuit-Woman-shackled-during-pregnancy-at-11007367.php


The lawsuit alleges that during labor, the medical staff asked sheriff's deputies to unshackle Hall but they refused. As a result, staffers had trouble administering an epidural and Hall was exposed "to unreasonable risks for harm," the lawsuit says.

The U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have all adopted policies restricting the use of shackles on pregnant women, the lawsuit notes.

Hall's attorneys are asking for a jury trial and seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory damages and attorneys' fees................................





FILE - In this July 18, 2016 file photo, David Clarke, Sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wis., speaks during the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. A woman who was pregnant while detained at the Milwaukee County jail is alleging in a lawsuit against the sheriff that she was shackled while she was in labor in 2013. The federal lawsuit filed Tuesday, March 14, 2017, seeks class-action status, claiming there are about 40 other women who had a similar experience since 2011.

MILWAUKEE (AP)