More states are restricting the shackling of pregnant inmates, but it still occurs
Nearly 40 states ban the practice medical experts say is dangerous for pregnant inmates and fetuses. But many of those states have exceptions for public safety, and others have no laws at all.
The Tennessee legislature gave its final approval to a bill on Thursday that would restrict the use of shackles and other restraints on pregnant inmates â the latest state to limit what medical experts say is a routine but dangerous practice for pregnant people and fetuses.
More than a dozen states have no laws restricting the shackling of pregnant inmates, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and those that do often make exceptions for public safety or other reasons.
It's unclear exactly how many pregnant inmates are shackled pass through annually.
