Via The National Advocates for Pregnant Women, news that a bill which would institute universal standards for Florida prisons, jails and detention facilities in regards to shackling of pregnant incarcerated women has passed the Florida Senate.
Writing for the Florida Independent, Ashley Lopez reports:
A bill that would create uniform and humane rules for the shackling of incarcerated pregnant women passed the state Senate unanimously today.
State Rep. Betty Reed, D-Tampa, and Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, introduced the bill this session to creates rules in county and city jails to protect the health of pregnant women who are incarcerated. Advocates for women’s health have said the law would fill a present gap in jail policies in Florida.
Joyner echoed the feeling expressed by advocates and said today that the bill would “address a deficit in Florida law” by adding rules that require “equal and uniform treatment” of women who are incarcerated.
Lopez told me via twitter that the next step is passage in the House. Great news for Florida, let’s hope it makes it all the way to law.
Update: The bill moved forward in the House today, through its first committee step.
