Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act
Key claim: The bill would restrict the use of physical restraints on pregnant prisoners as a condition for states to receive full Byrne JAG funding and establish federal programs and grants to improve maternal healthcare in prisons.
Abstract
(HR3344 · 118th Congress) Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act This bill establishes new requirements related to grants, programs, and reports to improve the treatment and care of pregnant and postpartum women who are incarcerated. Specifically, the bill requires the following: states must restrict the use of restraints on pregnant women in prison in order to receive full funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program; the Bureau of Prisons must establish programs to optimize maternal health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women in federal prisons; the Bureau of Justice Assistance must award state grants for programs to support pregnant and postpartum women in state and local prisons and jails; and the Government Accountability Office must report on adverse maternal and infant health outcomes among incarcerated individuals and infants born to such individuals, with a particular focus on racial and ethnic disparities. Latest action (2023-05-15): Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Why this matters
For pregnant people in custody, the proposal addresses both physical restraint practices and access to maternal healthcare, linking conditions of confinement with reproductive health. It would use eligibility for full state Byrne JAG funding to encourage restraint restrictions while establishing healthcare programs and grants, but remains an introduced bill rather than an enacted protection.