Mothers Shackled During Labor
Mon, 07/19/2010 - 12:31pm | 
GNelson
Two stories in recent days highlight the Cook County Sheriff's illegal shackling of women in labor. A recent Chicago Tribune article and a story on National Public Radio's All Things Considered report a class action lawsuit in federal court against the Cook County Sheriff's office for illegally shackling women in labor and feature the mothers whose rights were violated.
CLAIM contributed information for both stories and executive director Gail Smith was interviewed.
Current Size: 100%
- More than 16,000 women go to jail annually in Cook County Jail and about 82% are mothers.
- About 80% of women detained at Cook County Jail are charged with non-violent crimes and only 1.8% of the 3,100 women admitted to Illinois prisons in 2009 were classified as a high security risk.
Because children need their mothers.
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