Woman Forced to Give Birth While Shackled in New York Court, Public Defenders Say

A woman nine months pregnant was arrested for drug possession, taken to a hospital, discharged, and brought to criminal court for arraignment. She went into labor while waiting to appear before a judge and gave birth while restrained and handcuffed to the courtroom bench. Public defender organizations condemned the treatment as unacceptable and humiliating in public view. They called for an immediate and transparent investigation into all agencies and personnel involved, along with a full review of medical staffing, emergency response protocols, and how pregnant people are treated in custody during the arraignment process. New York law has prohibited shackling during labor and delivery since 2009, and defenders said the policy has been repeatedly violated. They also alleged staff joked during the incident and that the defendant lacked meaningful privacy.

"“There is not any circumstance in which being handcuffed and shackled to a bench and being forced to deliver a baby is acceptable,” Karen Thompson, legal director at Pregnancy Justice, told Jezebel in a statement. “The fact that this happened in a court of law just highlights the horror.”"

"The coalition of public defenders are apparently calling for an “immediate and transparent investigation into the actions of all agencies and personnel involved,” as well as a “full review of medical staffing, emergency response protocols, and the treatment of pregnant people in custody throughout the arraignment system.”"

"According to the defenders' statement, various staff members of the court also joked about the incident as it was happening, and Randazzo was denied any meaningful privacy. “This situation shows multiple failures throughout the system,” Mike Wessler, communications director at"

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