Assembly member Toni Atkins authored the law. It bans shackles, which can cause falls and cross-the-belly restraints, which can injure the stomach. Atkins says incarcerated pregnant prisoners already face more health complications than most.
“Women in correctional facilities are more likely to experience miscarriage, preeclampsia, pre-term birth and low birth weight,” says Atkins.
The Board of State and Community Corrections, which oversees statewide compliance, says the evidence shows the counties are abiding by the law and are speeding up their response times to information requests.
Legal Services for Prisoners with Children conducted the review. It says most of the counties have not responded to public record requests in a timely manner. Some have not responded at at all. The group says it will continue to pressure them to do so.