Family Planning Advocates CEO Brooks Congratulates Legislature on Limiting Prisoner Shackling in Child Birth

ALBANY, NY (05/20/2009)(readMedia)-- The use of physical restraints on a pregnant prisoner during child birth and delivery may soon be lessened thanks to a bill that passed both houses of the New York State legislature today. The Anti-Shackle Bill unanimously passed in the Senate and overwhelmingly in the Assembly and now awaits Governor Paterson's signature. "The current practice of restraining a pregnant woman, particularly during labor and delivery, is inhumane, degrading and rarely necessary," said FPA President and CEO M. Tracey Brooks. "Equally important, shackling threatens the health and wellbeing of the mother and the child."

"As an organization whose core mission is to protect and promote women's access to quality reproductive health care, FPA strongly urged passage of this bill and we commend lawmakers for their support," Brooks said. "Recent legislative actions, including passage of the marriage equality bill in the Assembly and passage of this anti-shackling bill, make it increasingly clear that our elected officials are responding to the voters' mandate that humane rights be part of the fabric of all aspects of life in New York State. We're becoming a stronger state every day."

New York State has had a longstanding commitment to protecting and promoting women's reproductive health care. Prohibiting the practice of shackling takes us another step closer in advancing that commitment and ensuring women have access to the quality and compassionate care they deserve, according to Brooks.

Family Planning Advocates of New York State is a non-profit, statewide organization dedicated to protecting and expanding access to a full range of reproductive health care services. It represents New York's Planned Parenthood affiliates and other family planning centers, as well as hundreds of organizations and thousands of individual members.

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