The CARE Act

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Testimonials from directly-impacted pregnant and birthing New Hour members behind bars.

• “To give birth and keep your child with you while incarcerated is a pure blessing. In the facility, we were able to have our children with us for approximately 12 months. During that time, I experienced watching my child go through the early stages of life. I even experienced my child walk at 10 months old.” - Diana
• “Standing there as I pushed my daughter into the doctor's hands stood a corrections officer watching my daughter’s birth into the criminal injustice system. I then remained shackled after the birth, during recovery, and in the maternity ward room - so embarrassing... I was treated like a criminal even there.” - Carole
• “I told the CO I was pregnant and asked not to be handcuffed. The CO didn’t believe me and said I was ‘just fat.’ I didn’t get any extra water and had to drink brown water from the faucet. I lost 50 lbs in 4 months while pregnant and incarcerated.” - Donna
  “It would have just taken some common sense and empathy to prevent the cruelty that occurred to me and my child. Please support this bill to allow a standard of care for all incarcerated pregnant women and infants - the right to have fresh air, sunlight, access to a breast pump, and maybe even the same lactating chair that has just been approved for all corrections staff.” - Carole
• “The officers were in the room when I was examined at the OBGYN. The nurse tried telling the male CO to leave the room but he wouldn’t. We were treated as less than human.” - Cynthia
• “I was 9 months pregnant behind bars. I was shackled and cuffed at all doctor’s appointments. During shakedowns I was still made to stand against the wall and spread my legs to be searched. No dignity at all.” - Jen