Solitary Confinement and Its Impact on Pregnant Women

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Solitary confinement entails being isolated in small cells for 22–24 hours a day with little access to leisure activities, medical care, or human interaction. This increases the risk of premature labor, mental health crises like depression or trauma, and insufficient prenatal care (such as missed ultrasounds or nutrient-deficient meals) for expectant mothers. The study shockingly discloses that some women are put in solitary just for asking for accommodations linked to pregnancy, while others give birth in cells by themselves without medical assistance. Less well-known aspects include the disproportionate impact on women of color, the absence of federal limits on this practice, and the fact that state laws are left to their own devices. Despite alternatives like community based programs, advocates point out that solitary is frequently utilized as a default rather than a last resort. The article emphasizes the pressing need for change by showing how punitive isolation puts the lives of both mothers and fetuses in jeopardy and has long-term effects.

-McCammon, S. (2019, June 16). Pregnant, locked up, and alone. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2019/06/16/732109546/pregnant-locked-up-and-alone

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