Urge Michigan Legislators to Take Up Bills to Unshackle Pregnant Women in Prisons!

By MUUSJN on Monday, November 9th, 2020

Urge State Senator Mike Shirkey to Take Up SB 830 & SB 831 to Unshackle Pregnant Women in Prisons!

WHAT DO THESE BILLS DO? SB 830 and 831 are companion bills that provide protection for pregnant and post-partum women who are incarcerated. These bills would prohibit pregnant and post-partum women from being restrained. These bills also outline a process to determine if such a person needs to be restrained, e.g., if she is a flight risk. SB 830 also establishes the right for incarcerated women to breastfeed and to be provided with sanitary supplies to express breast milk.

SB 830 and 831 WERE SPONSORED BY:

Senators Erika Geiss, Stephanie Chang, Sylvia Santana, Jeff Irwin, Rosemary Bayer, Betty Jean Alexander, Marshall Bullock, Curtis Hertel, Paul Wojno and Adam Hollier.

You can read the full text of SB 830 here:

https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2019-2020/billintroduced/Senate/pdf/2020-SIB-0830.pdf

You can read the full text of SB831 here:

https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2019-2020/billintroduced/Senate/pdf/2020-SIB-0831.pdf


WHY NOW?These bills enjoy broad bipartisan support. They have the potential to dramatically improve the health of incarcerated women and their infants. WE DEMAND IMMEDIATE ACTION. We understand that the Lame Duck session is short and will likely be very busy. Since these bills already have expansive support, they can be taken up expeditiously.

ACTION: Call and email Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and urge him to bring SB 830 and SB 831 up for an immediate vote: SenMShirkey@senate.michigan.gov (517) 373-5932

This call to action was issued on November 9th by MUUSJN’s Interfaith Reproductive Justice Coalition, a statewide coalition of 26 organizations that support women’s and LGBTQ rights. For more information on the Coalition, contact Randy Block at 248-224-5572 (cell) or randyblock@yahoo.com. This alert was written by Nomi Joyrich, MUUSJN’s Reproductive and Economic Justice Organizer.

Category: News | Tags: , , ,