Governor Schwarzenegger vetoes bill to ban shackling of pregnant female prisoners

[Liberal_in_LA]

Governor vetoes bill to ban shackling of pregnant female prisoners

My organization, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, was contacted last fall by Pauline Latu, a woman being held in Contra Costa County Jail. She had never been in jail before, and her charges were for a nonviolent crime. She found out she was pregnant while she was in jail and was released about two weeks before she delivered her baby.


She went to court at least 10 times, and every time she left the jail, she was shackled -- sometimes around her belly, sometimes attached to another prisoner. Near the end of her pregnancy, she developed pre-eclampsia and had to be hospitalized shackled to her bed, having to ask permission from a guard every time she had to go to the bathroom.

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Our bill, AB1900, faced no opposition. It passed the Legislature without a single no vote. We joined together with more than 50 organizations, including medical groups, county boards of supervisors and women's rights organizations, all of whom wrote letters and testified in support of our bill.

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On Monday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed our bill. This veto is particularly mean spirited and only serves to support the stereotype that incarcerated women are dangerous and must be subdued at all times. During these horrendous budget times, when there is a steadily shrinking safety net, AB1900 was an inexpensive solution to a human rights problem.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/opinionshop/detail?entry_id=73370&tsp=1#ixzz10sKmaYGT

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Shame on him.

Just when I think he might be getting a clue...Nope.

[Iris]

2. wtf? Why?

[PoliticAverse]

3. His stated reason...

(from the article linked in the submitter's post)

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 1900 without my signature.

This bill would prohibit the shackling of pregnant inmates and wards during transport to and from correctional facilities except when other less restrictive restraints are deemed necessary.

Additionally, this bill would require the Corrections Standards Authority (CSA) to develop guidelines concerning the shackling of pregnant inmates and wards during transport. However, CSA's mission is to regulate and develop standards for correctional facilities, not establish policies on transportation issues to and from other locations.

Since this bill goes beyond the scope of CSA's mission, I am unable to sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

[applegrove]

4. I worked at a prison one time. I was answering the phones. A female

prisoner called and said she was in hospital and she had just had a baby. I congratulated her and we chatted for a while. My boss heard me and asked if I knew this prisoner was always in jail and had six kids in government care. I felt like such a chump. Since then I've had less sympathy for women who live illegal lifestyles and have little babies at the same time.

[Tsiyu]

5. yes, that one prisoner

sure showed you.


I suppose now, because of what you've posted here about a single phone call, we shall all have no further sympathy for pregnant inmates.

Thank you for that valuable service.


:eyesrollingthingy:

[Leftist Agitator]

6. Wht the fuck is your post supposed to mean?

Seriously, what the fuck? I don't understand what it is that you're trying to say here.

Please to explain it, yes?

[applegrove]

11. Depends on the case. Some people are just evil.

[Leftist Agitator]

13. Well, you're a fucking asshole.

Welcome to ignore. You have the ignominy of being the only one on the list. Congrats.

[Iris]

9. So we should torture them while they give birth?

That's probably really good for the baby, too, I'll bet.

[lame54]

7. Great job California

[uncommon]

8. They shouldn't put anything around their stomaches, but I see no reason

they shouldn't have handcuffs just like any other prisoner would.

[Iris]

10. There are plenty of reasons why this is a problem. Do some reaserch.

[Dawson Leery]

12. Like father like son?