"First Of Its Kind"-Study finds widespread 'criminalisation of pregnancy' in US institutions

[kpete]

Study finds widespread 'criminalisation of pregnancy' in US institutions
Study cites misinterpretation of Roe v Wade in array of cases where women were denied rights based on pregnancy status

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In the first study of its kind, to be published on Tuesday, researchers from the National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) identified 413 criminal and civil cases across 44 states involving the arrests, detentions and equivalent deprivations of pregnant women's liberty between 1973 and 2005. NAWP said that it is aware of a further 250 cases since 2005. Both figures are likely to be underestimates, it said.

The report, which will appear in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, found that women were denied a wide range of basic human rights, including the right to life, liberty, equal protection and due process of law "based solely on their pregnancy status".

It found a wide range of cases in which pregnant women were arrested and detained not only if they ended a pregnancy or expressed an intention to end a pregnancy, but also after suffering unintentional pregnancy loss.

The cases of detention and forced medical intervention varied widely and included one in which a judge in Ohio kept a woman imprisoned to prevent her having an abortion.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/15/criminalisation-pregnancy-women-study

[iemitsu]

1. The war on women is revealed in these stories.

I've read about a number of these cases, but in isolation. Seeing them compiled in this fashion is quite shocking.
Our justice system is medieval, especially in its treatment of women.

[Tsiyu]

2. 2013

and some judges and DAs think it's still Cave Man Days.

Preying on women seems to be institutionalized in the US, when those who prey on them - whether thugs or officials - ought to be the ones institutionalized - in jail.

[HiPointDem]

3. kr

[cthulu2016]

4. rec

[freshwest]

5. K&R

[okaawhatever]

6. Wow, just wow. I feel like i'm on a treadmill with women's rights. moving but getting nowhere n/t

[eShirl]

7. horror stories