Born in chains: the American way of birth in prison

[marmar]

Born in chains: the American way of birth in prison
Thanks to its incarceration addiction, the US has the world's largest female prison population – but no plan for pregnancies

Sadhbh Walshe
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 25 August 2012


When DeShawn Balka was five-and-a-half months pregnant, she was sent to the Clayton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia for a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession. As her pregnancy was high-risk, she was housed in the jail's infirmary. On the night of 18 April 2012 she started experiencing nausea and stomach pain and called for medical assistance. According to her attorney, Mike Mills, and her two cell mates, her cries for help were not only ignored but, she was warned to shut up or else the entire ward would be put on lockdown.

Suddenly, DeShawn was screaming and her two cellmates began banging on their cell door. When the guard in charge finally came to her aid, she was found sitting on the toilet in tears. An investigation report issued by the Clayton County Sheriff's office describes in a rather chilling manner, their version of what happened next:

"When Sergeant Mayo got to cell 3508 she saw Inmate Balka sitting on the toilet crying. Sergeant Mayo told Inmate Balka to stand up so she could help the baby. Inmate Balka refused saying it hurt too much to stand. Sergeant Mayo finally convinced Inmate Balka to stand and when she did, Sergeant Mayo observed a baby face down in the toilet. Sergeant Mayo then grabbed the baby and held its face out of the water until medical arrived. LPN Eugene Andry responded and removed the baby from the toilet and started CPR."

It was too late, of course: the baby, Inyx O'Neil Balka, was never to get a shot at living, and his mother is now suing the county for neglect. The county in turn (via their investigation report) deny any wrongdoing. Whatever the outcome of the lawsuit, the case highlights the inherent dangers of placing pregnant women in prison – and the complete lack of any program or protocol to cater to their particular needs, never mind their unborn babies' welfare, once they get there.

Thanks to the war on drugs, and a general 30-year-long incarceration binge, the number of women in prison has increased by over 400%, to the point where America can now make the not-so-proud boast of having the largest female prison population in the world. The vast majority of these women are not only non-violent first-time offenders, they are frequently the victims of violence themselves, and their crimes are often crimes of addiction, either stealing to buy the substance of that addiction, or simply being caught in possession of it. Needless to mention, women of color are far more likely to end up in prison than their white counterparts. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/26/born-in-chains-american-way-birth-prison

[PDJane]

1. I find this disgusting.......

And I've heard worse stories. Like women kept with shackled ankles while giving birth, inadequate diet, disgusting treatment......and children forced to give birth in prison. It's repulsive and shocking to me.

[FarPoint]

2. It is all about security.

Even men who are inmates or under arrest, are in a coma and on a ventilator are shackled. It is a security issue. No exceptions.

Escape is an option for say a birthing mother since this is the OP issue.......Weapons can be obtained such as sizzors, ink pen, needles... In an escape, someone can or will be taken hostage, harmed or murdered; a nurse, doctor, housekeeper, nurse aid, lab tech or even a visitor could become a victim.

The security rule has evolved for a good reason.

[rug]

3. Don't forget she could use the umbilical cord as a whip.

[CreekDog]

4. Learn to spell "scissors" before trying to convince us of the rightness of a barbaric policy

especially in the context of an article that said such treatment led to a child's death.

[LeftyMom]

5. Let me guess, you've never given birth.

[FarPoint]

6. I have given birth.

If I was an inmate at the time of delivery...Being shackled would be expected. Safety is first. ...period.

[LeftyMom]

7. What about the safety of the baby?

Anxiety in the mother slows labor and harms birth outcomes, as does reduced range of motion. Getting up and moving around helps to get the baby through the pelvis and reduces the need for drugs and surgical intervention.

[FarPoint]

8. What if the inmate mother who is in labor

takes a needle and sticks it in the eye if the OB nurse? What if you or your family member happened to be that nurse? Could he or she work efficiently with only one eye?

It's not worth it... The baby will be delivered safe. The risk of harm to an innocent health-care worker takes precedence. Oh...and escape could also include an accomplice with a weapon such as a 9 mm.


I'll add a link of related violence to nurses in the health-care role.


http://www.workerscompinsider.com/2011/03/are-nurses-and.html

[LeftyMom]

9. Women in labor are not Jason Bourne.

That's the stupidest thing I've heard all week. Really.

You've got to be a dude, because a woman would know how stupid that is.

[obamanut2012]

13. Is the child not an innocent?

[LeftyMom]

15. Oh good, then you know why mobility and reduced stress are vital to healthy births.

If you don't know that please get a job doing oil changes.

FWIW, the vast majority of female inmates are non-violent drug offenders. While the justice system and the health care system already fail those women in scandalous numbers, failing their children as well is beyond the fucking pale. If you don't get that you are in the wrong party.

[LeftyMom]

19. I am completely intolerant of dangerous nonsense that risks the safety of women and children.

[Trillo]

44. Well, I think "you also are delusional"

I can only speculate as to why that may be ↓

[yardwork]

47. To me, "nasty, rude and hateful" describes letting babies die because their mothers are in jail.

ymmv.

[midnight]

17. These physical assaults on nurses should never be tolerated and should be prosecuted just like any

other assault... Nurses who are put in threading situations need to request security... But this does not explain or excuse the highest population of female prisoners in the world..

[LaurenG]

22. And none of those patients were shackled we're they?

You are most definitely in the wrong profession. Get into law enforcement so you can express yourself. A woman giving birth is in no shape to escape. A real nurse would know this.

[FarPoint]

23. You are poorly informed.

Teabagger style; you sound just like they do at the moment.....

You apparently have never been assaulted while trying to help someone who is ill....to be sucker punched, spit on and stabbed. Oh, yes, my co-worker Liz was pregnant while working last year...a patient in the ER was there for stitches and a broken hand post a domestic violence event. He punched her repeatedly in the head, face and torso. It happened so fast..... She ended up with a fractured skull, ruptured spleen, lost vision in her right eye and lost her baby. I guess she isn't a real nurse either.

I'm so glad to know we have such insightful members like you in our democratic community.

You don't understand a situation, so you attack the poster with vile insults for providing an honest insightful experience. To share such as I did requires trust on a discussion board.

You make DU insignificant....we are only strong as our weakest link.

[LaurenG]

24. So you are trying to emulate teabaggers?

Last edited Wed Aug 29, 2012, 11:57 AM - Edit history (1)

Dear me! This is your great reason to chain up all incarcerated, delivering females? Because a man punched your friend in the hospital? Nooo I don't think so.

How low can you go there Farpoint? Keep stooping and before long you'll be able to see satans buttcheeks while looking up.

Thanks for the insight on your part it's nice to know what you really think, ok not really, thank goodness I've never interacted with you before, you spew vilnesss and I don't need that on me. And I knew you weren't a nurse, you are far too hateful... http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1016&pid=40281

[LaurenG]

28. So are you in law enforcement? I see you sure as hell aren't a nurse.

Thank God and Jesus for that!

[obamanut2012]

31. Why was a DV assailant not attended by a LEO?

Like in every other ER I know of. And, yes, I have friends and relatives who are ER nurses and EMTs. ERs have security, and those in custody are attended by LEOs. Always.

on edit" LaurenG is about as much of a Teabagger as Joe Biden is.

[yardwork]

50. See my posts 48 and 49 below. Sounds like a passage from Silence of the Lambs.

[Starry Messenger]

43. Well it's a good thing your friend wasn't shackled.

And all the other things that totally make this story totally irrelevant to the discussion at hand.

[yardwork]

48. I am suspicious of your story about your "co-worker Liz."

Yes, sometimes medical personnel are assaulted by people they are trying to help. But I find it somewhat unbelievable that a domestic violence suspect was allowed to beat a nurse in the ER to the point that "she ended up with a fractured skull, ruptured spleen, list vision in her right eye and lost her baby." That sounds like the kind of injuries that would result from a car accident or a prolonged beating. Anybody who attacked a nurse in the ER would be subdued very quickly, especially if they had already been arrested for domestic violence.

I'm sorry to say this, but I don't believe your story about your co-worker. I read that you have given conflicting stories about your own profession - sometimes you claim to be a nurse, sometimes you insist that you are not a nurse. I think that you are making things up.

[yardwork]

49. That sounds like something from Silence of the Lambs.

Your description of what happened to your "co-worker Liz" sounded familiar to me, so I looked it up. It is very similar to a passage from the book Silence of the Lambs describing something that the fictitious cannibal murderer Hannibal Lecter did. Here's the quote:

"I am going to show you why we insist on such precautions. On the evening of July 8th, 1981, he complained of chest pains and was taken to the dispensary. His mouthpiece and restraints were removed for an EKG. When the nurse leaned over him, he did this to her. [pulls out photo] The doctors managed to reset her jaw more or less. Saved one of her eyes....
- Dr. Frederick Chilton, Silence of the Lambs

[CreekDog]

26. Congratulations on becoming a nurse in just 3 months!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=725469

"And no, I'm not a nurse...just trying to have a discussion...identifying that we have missing information; we just have cherry picked information from the mother. Let's be fair to all parties."

[GObamaGO]

27. You are a nurse, you are not a nurse. Which is it?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=725469

[Live and Learn]

29. Hmm, isn't every patient, especially those in pain, a risk then?

Shouldn't we be shackling every patient that comes in to ER to protect the nurses? How about their family members? Aren't they a potential risk too?

[obamanut2012]

32. You told me on here you were NOT a nurse

You told me that several times, in the thread a couple months ago about a student not being given an asthma inhaler in a school in LA.

So, are you an ER nurse, or are you a parent who is NOT a nurse, but has been given some minimal state-mandated training so you can help at your child's school?

I have no idea which it is, since I'm not you, so please, which is it? So I can know for future threads.

Thanks!!!

Link where you state you are NOT a nurse:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=725469

[obamanut2012]

12. What have you given birth to?

Because, from your post, I don;t think it was a baby.

[obamanut2012]

10. Even Snooki couldn't ecsape while giving birth

And she's an alien.

I think you better watch some documentaries about childbirth.

[FarPoint]

14. This is Democratic Underground....

a discussion board for democratic minds to explore the social, cultural and political issues of the world in a fruitful, adult fashion. You may be in the wrong venue....please try Twitter for simple minded gabbery.

[obamanut2012]

33. You told me on here you were NOT a nurse

Now, you are saying you are a nurse.

Here's the link where you told DU you aren't a nurse:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=725469

To quote your post above: "This is Democratic Underground....
a discussion board for democratic minds to explore the social, cultural and political issues of the world in a fruitful, adult fashion. You may be in the wrong venue....please try Twitter for simple minded gabbery."


Talking to yourself again, eh?

[FarPoint]

38. Not sharing that I am a nurse proved to be a wise decision.

You validate concerns of one being harrassed. You are vicious. Poor people skills may be the issue. I wish good times come to you in the near future as you are not kind to others at this phase of life. Maybe things will improve for you sad one. Please examine your motives.

[obamanut2012]

39. uh huh

[GObamaGO]

40. You are resorting to calling people names who have called you on your inconsistencies

You have officially lost the argument.

Have a nice day.

[CreekDog]

41. sharing or not sharing, pretty much irrelevant now

most of us don't know what to believe.

[yardwork]

46. But you went out of your way to state that you were NOT a nurse.

And now you're saying that you are a nurse. Which is it?

If you choose not to disclose your profession, that is different from going out of your way to deny it. How would you feel if I stated that I was not a rocket scientist, and then three months later said that I was a rocket scientist and then went on to lecture other posters about how my knowledge of rocket science was far superior to theirs? Do you see why people are asking questions?

Furthermore, I disagree with you that women giving birth need to be shackled.

[Nikia]

30. Unless the woman is violent and/or facing decades of time, a guard should be enough

You are aware that some prisoners work or do community service on the outside or attend funerals without shackles. Some are minimally supervised. Occaisionally they escape, usually without violence. Most of the time they are eventually caught, are given more time, and aren't let outside again. Violence would mean a lot more time.
Having given birth, I think that few women would try to escape. I guess that before the transition phase, they could feel good enough to try to escape but then they'd face giving birth unassisted, have more time added to their sentence, and be less likely to see their child again. I don't know if any woman would be capable of escaping during the pushing phase. Having given birth a month ago, I just don't think that it is possible.

[FarPoint]

35. I only offered an explanation as to why shackles are used

In hospitals. I don't make the rules. I do appreciate your insight. I understand the safety concerns and rationale by law enforcement. Identifying the issues is the first step in change. I would participate with such activism as long as safety for all is primary.

[obamanut2012]

36. You stated on here earlier you weren't a nurse

Now, in this thread, you say you are an ER nurse. Several of us have asked you to explain this, but you don;t seem to want to help us understand. Just curious.

Link where you stated your lack of nursing education and experience:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=725469

[midnight]

16. When I read this, I was astounded to read U.S. jails more women than the rest of the world.

[K8-EEE]

20. USA! USA! nt

[LaurenG]

25. I am amazed at the number of women in prison in the US

it's sickening.

[obamanut2012]

34. They usually take the fall for drug dealers

Often their BFs or husbands, as mules, etc. Martha Stewart commented on this in interviews after she was released from Federal prison. She stated she was appalled at the young women, many of them very poor and abused, imprisoned because of taking the fall for the men they thought loved them.

Very sad.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

37. I guess c-sections are probably out of the question.

Those cost money and involve surgery.

She's a prisoner, so what's a dead mother and dead baby worth? Nothing....

[Texasgal]

45. No woman should ever be forced

to give birth in such a way...inmate or not, it;s disgusting!

[Warren DeMontague]

51. "for a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession."

And, there you have it, folks. Your tax dollars, hard at wok.