Dear Corrrection system folk --- 

I have visited my local jail, and participated in programs in the State of Virginia and met many women. Of course I discovered that they were women. Some made very bad choices, or bad responses - reactive to the events. Some hung around with the wrong people.  All of the women I have met I have found points of solidarity with: hunger for God, desire for learning, wanting to get out of self-pity, to begin life again --- in fact they were like me. 

When I think of pregnancy, giving birth times, I know it is such an opportunity for new direction, new ideals, new hope for another.  We must do all we can not to demean this time. Woman need to be free to surrender to the process of giving birth ---it needs to be co-operated with, for the good of the child to come.

Restraints -- chains and cuffs of any kind are not good for heart and spirit ---and movement ---during such a critical time.  PLEASE,  let's have humanity.

thanks.

jean Sweeney