Thread by @ashtonpittman

NEW: Mississippi has banned the shackling of pregnant women after Gov. @TateReeves signed the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act into law.

The law is similar to federal legislation that died in the U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020. 1/
mississippifreepress.org/11409/mississi…

Mississippi's Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act requires the state to house mothers of minors within 250 miles of the child's residence.

It ends limits on total child visitors & mandates the option for at least two visits per week. 2/
mississippifreepress.org/11409/mississi…

“Mississippi is moving in the right direction. This is good common-sense policy that establishes dignity for incarcerated women because every woman deserves that," says Steven Randle of @EmpowerMS. 3/
mississippifreepress.org/11409/mississi…

Republican @StateRepBain, the lead sponsor of Mississippi's Dignity for Incarceration Women Act, celebrated after Gov. Reeves quietly signed it into law.

“Glad to get this pro-life legislation across the finish line,” Rep. Bain wrote. 4/ mississippifreepress.org/11409/mississi…

Under the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act, the Department of Corrections must “permit the newborn to remain with the mother for seventy-two (72) hours" after birth and supply products, such as diapers, to care for the newborn. 5/ mississippifreepress.org/11409/mississi…

“National research shows that almost 80 percent of incarcerated women are mothers. Studies also show that children who grow up with incarcerated parents are six to seven times more likely to be incarcerated themselves."
—@EmpowerMS 6/
mississippifreepress.org/11409/mississi…

Mississippi joins over 20 states that have banned shackling of incarcerated women.

A federal bill by @RepPressley, the Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act, would incentivize more states to do so by tying federal funding to ending the practice. 7/ mississippifreepress.org/11409/mississi…

“A safe pregnancy should be a right, not a privilege & every person should be able to experience their pregnancy without worrying if they will survive delivery or make it to their child’s first birthday—including women behind the wall." —@AyannaPressley 8/ mississippifreepress.org/11409/mississi…

While the federal Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act twice died in the US Senate without even getting a vote from 2017-2020 under then-Leader McConnell, the Mississippi Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act passed both houses unanimously.

So think on that. mississippifreepress.org/11409/mississi…

You can help support our work to produce journalism that holds power to account and centers people and the issues that matter to their lives by following
@MSFreePress
and giving a one-time or recurring non-profit donation to mfp.ms/donate.