House Bill 836 bans hard restraints on pregnant inmates during labor, transport, delivery or postpartum recovery except in the case of extenuating safety circumstances.  This bill would codify action taken this past fall by the Virginia Board of Corrections in which the Board voted unanimously to restrict the use of hard restraints on pregnant prisoners.  The bill allows for an assessment by the jailer that if the pregnant inmate is a flight risk or may pose serious risk of harm to herself or others she may still remain in shackles.

I urge your support of HB 836.