New York legislators seek broader anti-shackling protections following courtroom birth in Brooklyn

New York lawmakers are advancing anti-shackling bills to protect incarcerated pregnant women. A recent incident in a New York City courtroom involved Samantha Randazzo, charged with a low-level drug offense, who had her hands cuffed behind her back while waiting to be arraigned. Accounts differed after her water broke, with some claims that she was forced to give birth in chains, while officials said restraints were removed once labor began and that her feet were not shackled. Although her baby was delivered safely, State Sen. Julia Salazar called the experience horrific and said legislation is needed. Her bill would prohibit restraints when a person is known to be pregnant, in labor or delivery, or within twelve weeks post-pregnancy while in custody or under custodial interrogation.

"A public defender in the courtroom that night said [Samantha] Randazzo, who had been charged with a low-level drug offense, had her hands "cuffed behind her back while she waited to be arraigned,". But officials said the restraints were removed once it became clear she was in labor."

"There were "conflicting accounts about what happened" after Randazzo's water broke, according to The New York Times. While the Legal Aid Society and the Brooklyn Defenders released a joint statement the day after the incident claiming Randazzo had been forced to give birth "in chains," the notes that a spokesman for the Office of Court Administration said that her feet were not shackled, and she was not "cuffed" to the bench."

"Although Randazzo's baby was delivered safely, some New York lawmakers have called for more protections for pregnant New Yorkers in custody. State Sen. Julia Salazar (D-Brooklyn), who introduced an anti-shackling bill in January of last year, called Randazzo's courtroom birth "horrific" in a recent."

"Salazar's bill would prohibit the use of restraints by law enforcement when "a person who is known to be pregnant, in labor or delivery, or twelve weeks post-pregnancy while in the custody of law enforcement, subject to custodial interrogation, or has their freedom of action""

Read at Reason.com