Pregnant Women in Custody Act

Pregnant Women in Custody Act

This bill establishes requirements to address the health needs of incarcerated women related to pregnancy and childbirth.

The bill requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics to collect data on the health needs of incarcerated pregnant women at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels.

With respect to incarcerated women at the federal level, the bill

• requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to provide appropriate services and programs to address the health and safety needs related to pregnancy and childbirth, as well as appropriate health care to a woman with a high-risk pregnancy;
• limits the use of restrictive housing for prisoners who are pregnant or in postpartum recovery; and
• requires the BOP to report annually on the number of administrative claims and appeals filed by pregnant inmates.

With respect to incarcerated women at the state and local levels, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study the services and protections for pregnant incarcerated women in state and local correctional settings.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov