Bill Overview
Title: Pregnant Women in Custody Act
Description: This bill establishes requirements to address the health needs of incarcerated women related to pregnancy and childbirth. The bill requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics to collect data on the health needs of incarcerated pregnant women at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels. With respect to incarcerated women at the federal level, the bill requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to provide appropriate services and programs to address the health and safety needs related to pregnancy and childbirth, as well as appropriate health care to a woman with a high-risk pregnancy; limits the use of restrictive housing for prisoners who are pregnant or in postpartum recovery; and requires the BOP to report annually on the number of administrative claims and appeals filed by pregnant inmates. With respect to incarcerated women at the state and local levels, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study the services and protections for pregnant incarcerated women in state and local correctional settings.
Sponsors: Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]
Target Audience
Population: Incarcerated Pregnant Women
Estimated Size: 58000
- The bill targets the health needs of incarcerated women related to pregnancy and childbirth.
- In the USA, approximately 58,000 women are pregnant when they enter prison each year.
- The bill affects all women in federal, state, and local detention facilities who are currently pregnant or may become pregnant during their incarceration.
Reasoning
- The policy specifically targets the health needs of incarcerated pregnant women in the U.S. prison system. These women often face significant challenges, such as lack of access to adequate prenatal and postpartum care, as well as restrictive and potentially harmful conditions during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Given that approximately 58,000 women are pregnant when they enter prison each year, the policy will have a significant but targeted impact. However, the bill's budget constraints may limit the extent of services available, particularly as costs associated with healthcare and corrections can be high.
- The policy is likely to have varied impacts depending on the location and level of incarceration (federal, state, local) due to differing resources and existing programs.
- Most of the general US population outside of these facilities will not be directly impacted by the policy, although there may be indirect societal benefits such as improved maternal and infant health outcomes, reduced post-release hospitalization costs, and potential decreases in recidivism rates among beneficiaries.
- The well-being scores before and after implementation will reveal potential improvements in the mental and physical health of this group due to better healthcare access and improved conditions during incarceration.
Simulated Interviews
Incarcerated individual (Texas)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I was worried about my baby's health since there's not much medical support here.
- The new policy sounds like it could really help, especially if they limit restraints, which are very uncomfortable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Correctional officer (New York)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improving maternal health services could lower the tension and stress among these women.
- I'm concerned about the additional workload without adequate staffing increases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Public health expert (California)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a positive step towards addressing critical health inequities faced by incarcerated pregnant women.
- Success will depend on effective implementation and monitoring of the services provided.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Incarcerated individual (Illinois)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm scared of getting pregnant in here because I don't think they care about us like they should.
- Seems like they're finally trying to do something good for women like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Prison healthcare administrator (Florida)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The additional resources can help push system-wide improvements.
- Effective management will be key to ensuring that these funds are used appropriately.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Incarcerated individual (Ohio)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful the new policy will mean better prenatal care and less stress.
- Getting released early due to pregnancy could be a dream come true.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Policy analyst (Washington)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a progressive policy that should be replicated in other areas of criminal justice reform.
- Effective data collection and accountability will determine its success.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Social worker (Arizona)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better healthcare for incarcerated women will improve long-term outcomes for families.
- There needs to be more community support post-release to build on these improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Incarcerated individual (Georgia)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Facing my pregnancy behind bars, I'm scared and anxious.
- If this bill means I can have a healthy pregnancy, it's a ray of hope.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Senior correctional facility manager (Oregon)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The allocated budget appears significant but needs careful allocation to reach all institutions effectively.
- Staff training will be crucial to realize the goals of this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $55000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $55000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $55000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $55000000)
Year 10: $52000000 (Low: $47000000, High: $58000000)
Year 100: $60000000 (Low: $55000000, High: $65000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill addresses a significant gap in healthcare for incarcerated pregnant women, potentially improving long-term health outcomes.
- Initial costs may be high due to infrastructure and staffing needs, but these may decrease after implementation adjust smoothly.
- Any changes at the state and local level may face variations in execution and costs based on regional policies.