An Analysis of Court Decisions, Statutes, and Administrative Regulations Related to Pregnant Inmates

Pregnant inmates represent about 5% of females within the correctional population. Although this is a small portion of the entire inmate population, it is important to adequately address their needs to protect the health of the mother and the fetus. Many states have failed to properly address this issue. However, the states that appear to be the most comprehensive in terms of their treatment of pregnant inmates are California and Pennsylvania. Other states should model their statutes and administrative regulations after these states to effectively address the needs of pregnant inmates.