By Anthony Gangi, C1 Columnist
Last week’s wrap up presented our warden with a bit of a dilemma. She needed to construct a policy that ensured the safety of the response team, the inmate and, as an added element, an unborn baby. In case you are unfamiliar with this scenario, the warden found herself in need of a policy that can govern the use of force for pregnant inmates.
For the wrap up, you can clearly read that all parties who responded had major concerns for the welfare of the unborn baby. ShelbieLB31 states, “Just because the mother made poor life choices, the baby shouldn’t have to pay for that. That baby should be protected as a member of the public and we are sworn to protect the public. Yes, we should take care of our officers first, because we are the ones protecting its life source, but from a human/mother’s standpoint, I would give my life to save that baby’s life.” As you can see, the writer is passionate about the need to protect the unborn baby. To the writer, this is not just a personal need, it’s their job.
As correctional officers, our number one concern is the preservation of life. When we form a response team, we must take into account all lives involved. This will include the members of the response team, the problematic inmate, and, in this case, the unborn baby. When detailing use of force policy, preservation of life is the first thing the warden must consider.
The warden also has to keep in mind that, even though this is a unique situation, it still warrants immediate attention that can help to create a permanent solution. The use of force policies that are already established can provide a great guideline, but it may still require a bit of modification. By this standard, the warden has to admit to herself that pregnant inmates may have to be treated a little bit differently. ShelbieLB31 states, “Pregnant females should absolutely be treated differently than other females during use of force. This should go without question. A shield, in my own opinion, would be a good tool as far as an intimidation tactic. It would also help to control the inmate if she were to try to harm herself, by pinning her against the wall. It could protect the baby greatly. Handcuffing the inmate shouldn’t be a big issue, although belly restraints might be. If she were to fall during an escort, especially if her feet are shackled, how would she protect her stomach? (I’m a mother of two, and I had the grace of a newborn calf during my pregnancies).”
In this case, ShelbieLB31 has taken the use of force policy that already exists and broke it down to see what can and can not be employed towards pregnant inmates. Just as a side note, for this case, a little bit of improvisation could be implemented in relationship to the shield (a mattress). SheilbieLB31 continues, “As far as chemical agents, I know that the first few months of fetal development are crucial, so I wouldn’t know how to answer that. That would and should be determined on the situation with the inmate, and whether using a CA would deter her from harming herself or the child. I would definitely have a doctor on standby as well. And when I say on standby, I mean right outside the cell door. Emergencies with pregnant females are extremely urgent, and if something were to happen, that would protect all parties involved. The policy should be precise and should be followed word-for-word. Now, with that being said, every situation is different, and not every scenario can be listed, but there can be guidelines set forth that tell the officers what absolutely is not allowed.”
Mwcollins85 wrote, “From my limited knowledge and prior life experience, (I was an EMT before coming behind the wire and have maintained my CERT) chemical agents are very iffy. Depending on how the pregnancy is going they could cause fetal distress if they mess up the mother too much (respiratory distress, Tachycardia, ect). EIDs are a definite no-go. Belly chains and shackles are also a no-go. Cell extraction is a option and the shield could help protect the child. Having a doctor within the unit when the extraction takes place is also a really good idea. I would use a restraint chair whenever possible and, if that isn’t an option, I would have a three-officer escort while being recorded. And two of the three officers would have hands on her at all times.”
In regards to the statement above made by Mwcollins85, we can stress again the importance of preserving life. Again, this is a unique situation, but we should be prepared. Any use of force policy that is created must keep in mind the preservation of life and the concerns for the added element (the unborn baby). It would be good to consult with a doctor and ask them what are the dangers a pregnant inmate can face when certain use of force tactics are applied and, from that point (guideline), see what areas would need adjustment. As you can see from the concerns mentioned above, a policy is needed so those on the frontline can follow. We can even go so far as training individuals who can later be used to extract a pregnant inmate. Again, this is a different situation and should be covered in training. In closing, besides creating a use of force policy for pregnant inmates, we need to train staff on the differences that need to be employed. When it comes to a pregnant inmate, we have another party involved (unborn baby) and that party needs to be protected.