Topic:
County prisoners and childbirth
(Gabel, D-Evanston; Hutchinson, D-Chicago Heights) creates security procedures for pregnant prisoners in county jails in counties of more than one million residents. It prohibits correctional officials from applying security restraints to a pregnant prisoner while at a medical facility for her pregnancy unless the officials make an individualized determination that the prisoner is a substantial flight risk or some other extraordinary circumstances requires security restraints. All restraints must be removed on the request of medical personnel. House Bill 1958 is in the Senate awaiting concurrence to House Amendment No. 3.