Up to 10% of women entering state and federal prisons are pregnant, but critics say the system often fails to provide proper maternal care — or even meet the women’s basic health care needs. It’s a problem that Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th) is hoping to address. She spoke at a New Jersey Reentry Corporation symposium Tuesday about the Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act, a bipartisan bill that she sponsored.
“Because prisons have so often been set up for men, we’re now looking at systems that don’t always take into account things like pregnancy, painful menstruation, breast cancer, sexual assault or sexual trauma or the quality and quantity of hygiene products given, or not given, to female prisoners,” said Sherrill.
The legislation would create programs to better care for women behind bars.
