The CARE Act

New York is systematically denying access to reproductive health care for people who are pregnant and parenting in prisons and jails and separating newborn children from their parents. This is a matter of grave injustice.

Pregnancy and childbirth are extremely physically and emotionally arduous—the isolation and indignity of incarceration exacerbate and compound this reality. Women in prison are a high-risk maternal health group, as they are more likely to have a medical or mental health condition or substance use disorder that is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. And exposure to incarceration is associated with an increased rate of low birth weights and preterm births.

New York must urgently raise the bar and commit to treating incarcerated pregnant and parenting people, as well as their children, with the care and humanity they need and deserve. The NYCLU strongly supports A.4879-B (Kelles) / S.4583-B (Salazar) (the CARE Act) to better protect reproductive health and family integrity for pregnant and parenting people incarcerated in New York.