ACLU Asks Court to Protect Abortion Care for Women Prisoners

[ismnotwasm]

ACLU Asks Court to Protect Access to Abortion Care for Women Prisoners in Missouri

"ST. LOUIS, MO - The American Civil Liberties Union today asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to uphold a ruling allowing women prisoners in Missouri to obtain timely, safe, and legal abortion care.

"Courts throughout the country have consistently held that being in prison does not mean a woman gives up her reproductive rights," said Diana Kasdan, a staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, who argued the ACLU's position before the court today. "Like other serious medical needs, prison officials must ensure that a woman can access abortion care."

In 2005, prison officials in Missouri went to extreme lengths to deny a woman prisoner abortion care. The ACLU intervened, asking a court to require the prison to transport the woman for an abortion. When the court ruled that the prison must transport the woman to a nearby health care facility, the state unsuccessfully appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court and the woman received the care she needed.

The ACLU then had the case certified as a class-action lawsuit on behalf of all incarcerated pregnant women in Missouri seeking abortions. In July 2006, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri ruled that women prisoners do not lose their constitutional right to abortion care, and as with all other serious medical needs, prison officials must transport prisoners offsite for treatment if necessary."

http://www.aclu.org/reproductiverights/abortion/31908prs20070924.html


If anyone can tell me what in sam hill is going ON with Missouri, I'd appreciate it. Nothing but bad news out of that state lately.

[Control-Z]

1. Un-efing-believable

that an imprisoned woman would be denied her reproductive rights. But it's all about control and punishment so it does make sense in a sick and twisted kind of way.

[MountainLaurel]

2. Not just Missouri

There was a similar case in Ohio, I believe, involving a woman who was in jail for writing bad checks.

[ismnotwasm]

3. Better news from Arizona

"Arpaio can’t deny transport for inmate abortions


From the article;
"Within a week of her incarceration, jail medical officials confirmed she was pregnant. She asked to be transported to an abortion facility, offering to pay for both the cost of the procedure as well as any incidental transportation and security costs.

The sheriff’s office refused, telling her she needed a court order. But that process took seven weeks.



http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/98213

I wonder how many states have such policies? I'll try to do a search-- this is very sick.