Woman gives birth 'on courtroom bench' during arraignment in Brooklyn

"Samantha Randazzo, 33, went into labor during her arraignment on a drug charge and delivered her baby "on a courtroom bench without adequate medical care, privacy, or dignity," according to a joint statement from the Legal Aid Society and multiple public defender organizations whose members witnessed the birth firsthand."

""At the time of arrest and when they arrived at the station house, Ms. Randazzo was wearing baggy clothes, did not inform officers she was pregnant, did not indicate any disabilities, and declined medical attention," the police said. Early Friday morning, at around 3:30 a.m., Randazzo then informed officers she was pregnant and "experiencing withdrawal from drugs," according to the police statement."

"Police say they then took her to Coney Island Hospital, which later discharged her. She gave birth in court just before midnight, roughly four hours after she was discharged, the NYPD said. A call was made to the FDNY after she gave birth. The agency said she was transported by emergency medical services to Brooklyn Hospital."

"Randazzo's attorney, Wynton Sharpe, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday. In a separate interview with The New York Times, he praised court officers who rushed to assist Randazzo when her water broke and described the situation as "joyful and sad.""

A 33-year-old woman gave birth in a Brooklyn courtroom late Friday night after being discharged from a hospital earlier that day. She went into labor during her arraignment on drug-related charges and delivered a baby boy on a courtroom bench. Legal Aid and public defender organizations said the birth occurred without adequate medical care, privacy, or dignity, based on members who witnessed it. Police said she was arrested Thursday after officers allegedly saw a controlled substance in plain view at a public housing complex. Police reported she initially did not disclose pregnancy, did not indicate disabilities, and declined medical attention, then later informed officers she was pregnant and experiencing withdrawal. After a hospital discharge, she gave birth about four hours later, and FDNY was called and transported her to Brooklyn Hospital.

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