Bill Would End Practice of Shackling Pregnant Inmates in Maryland

February 21, 2013 – Hour 1

We discuss a bill that would ban physical restraint of incarcerated Maryland women when they are in their second and third trimester of pregnancy and when they are in labor.

We are joined by the sponsor of HB0829, Delegate Mary Washington, Maryland State Delegate for the 43rd District in Baltimore City; Director and Founder of Power Inside, Jacqueline Robarge; and Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Maryland, Sonia Kumar. We’ll also hear the testimonies of two women who gave birth while shackled, Danielle and Shamira.

To see the Maryland campaign to stop the shackling of women, visit the ACLU of Maryland’s site and read their brief on the issue. To read an article on shackling published in The Baltimore Sun nearly 20 years ago, click here.

Written by Marc Steiner

The Marc Steiner Show currently airs on The Real News Network. The show covers the topics that matter, engaging real voices, from Charm City to Cairo and beyond. Email us to share your comments with us.