Blumenthal Calls for Improved Medical Care for Pregnant Women in Prison

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) demanded better medical care for pregnant women in prisons at a hearing convened by the Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law entitled “Birth Behind Bars.” Today’s hearing followed the Subcommittee’s investigation into the abuse of pregnant women in prisons across the country. Today’s hearing featured testimony from Karine Laboy whose daughter, Tianna, was denied medical care and then forced to give birth into a toilet at the York Correctional Institution in Niantic, Connecticut – leading to significant reforms to how incarcerated women receive medical care and health services in Connecticut.

“What we are seeing with the women who have been through pregnancy or postpartum experiences—200 documented human rights abuses—are simply beyond the pale in a civilized society, at least in the United States of America,” said Blumenthal. “And there's no way that it serves the purposes of incarceration. One of those purposes is punishment, but what we are talking about here is simply lack of humanity, that in no way is an acceptable form of punishment.”

At the hearing, Blumenthal and Ms. Laboy discussed the reforms that Connecticut has made following her daughter’s experience.

“We’re here not just to decry and denounce that inhumanity but also to celebrate the enormous courage and strength of women like you and your daughter, Tianna, and Naveah, even though she is only now six years old, who are working your way through a real ordeal and the aftereffects of it, showing great grace and dignity and grit, which can be an example for us all, and your advocacy has special meaning today and always in Connecticut—thank you so much,” said Blumenthal. 

Earlier today, Blumenthal met with Ms. Laboy to discuss her daughter’s experiences at York Correctional Institution and the need for improved medical care for incarcerated pregnant women.

Transcript of Blumenthal’s remarks from today’s hearing can be found below, and video of today’s hearing can be found here.

Senator Richard Blumenthal: Thank you, Senator Butler, and thank you to our three witnesses. I’ll try to avoid repeating what you may have already told us, but I think that this topic is so important, and the problem is so prevalent that some of the answers may actually merit repeating.

We are talking here about interviews that this Subcommittee has conducted with 100 formally or currently incarcerated survivors of pregnancy in state prisons or jail where they have been denied proper care. When a prisoner, say it’s a male prisoner, breaks a leg or suffers a concussion and or a cut, they are provided medical care, often inadequate medical care, but there is at least a recognition that the broken leg has to be put in a cast or the cut has to be given stitches. Some medical care is provided.

What we are seeing with the women who have been through pregnancy or postpartum experiences—200 documented human rights abuses—are simply beyond the pale in a civilized society, at least in the United States of America. And there's no way that it serves the purposes of incarceration. One of those purposes is punishment, but what we are talking about here is simply lack of humanity, that in no way is an acceptable form of punishment, and it is focused on women.

Our investigation spans 32 states. It is not isolated or unique to one state. Some states do better than others. One of our witnesses is from Connecticut, my state. I want to thank Karine Laboy for sharing your experience, which I know has been deeply painful. I want to thank you for talking to me earlier before this hearing and giving me some of your insights into your daughter's experience.

Ms. Karine Laboy: Thank you.

Blumenthal: The simple fact is that the state of Connecticut, in denying Tianna proper care, not only violated basic standards of decency but a court order, a consent order adopted years previously, your litigation resulted in a settlement. I know that settlements don't necessarily explicitly acknowledge responsibility, but certainly they are a sign of it, and maybe most important, it caused Connecticut to adopt a statute. After your horrifying ordeal, Connecticut has attempted to reform the way it treats pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women at the York Correctional Institution, both through legislation and a shift in who provides health services at the facility. Pregnant inmates now at York are given counseling and information about their pregnancy, medical care, including periodic monitoring and prenatal vitamins, a diet to support a healthy pregnancy, sanitary materials, and access to qualified medical health professionals for postpartum treatment. At least that is what they are supposed to receive. That is what they are entitled to receive under law. And I am proud of the state legislature that moves forward with those reforms as a result of your experience and, frankly, your advocacy. So I am here to say thank you to you and Tianna and Naveah, your granddaughter, who is about to enter first grade in New Britain. Congratulations to her.

Laboy: Thank you so much.

Blumenthal: And your daughter will be released this fall, perhaps as early as October. And congratulations to her on completing her incarceration. But my question to you is, do you think these reforms are having a positive effect on the treatment of pregnant women and postpartum women who are incarcerated, so far as you know in the Connecticut system?

Laboy: I believe so. I have not recently been up there, because they have been on lockdown, and, you know, other situations she was dealing with, but I believe she made some changes. Sadly, we had to come through this to make some changes happen, but they are getting—she is making some changes in the prison, as far as prenatal care and others, and I hope that it would just be worldwide, not just Connecticut.

Blumenthal: And your granddaughter has been in your home, correct?

Laboy: Yes, since she was five weeks, she came straight from the hospital to my home.

Blumenthal: From what I can tell, she has been the light of your life.

Laboy: Yes, definitely, yes. She is a blessing.

Blumenthal: Probably Tianna will live at least for a while with you once she’s released, along with your granddaughter.

Laboy: She will be close, yes. She wants to have her own place and stuff.

Blumenthal: Naturally.

Laboy: But she is going to be close, and she is going to be spending a lot of time with the family. It has been years.

Blumenthal: You have been through a lot.

Laboy: Yes, sir.

Blumenthal: We’re here not just to decry and denounce that inhumanity but also to celebrate the enormous courage and strength of women like you and your daughter, Tianna, and Naveah, even though she is only now six years old—

Laboy: Yes.

Blumenthal: –who are working your way through a real ordeal and the aftereffects of it, showing great grace and dignity and grit, which can be an example for us all, and your advocacy has special meaning today and always in Connecticut—thank you so much.

Laboy: Thank you, sir. It means a lot.

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