The post states “It sounds like something out of a medieval chamber of horrors. But believe it or not, that’s what happens when a female prisoner in California – and in 20 other states – gives birth.”
The thing is, that is not what happens when a female prisoner in California gives birth.
The poster provided a link to a NYTarticle that points out within the first six paragraphs that California has a law that prohibits women prisoners from being shackled while giving birth. The article also points out within the first six paragraphs that the law went into effect January 2006.
The “medieval chamber of horrors” link is to a blog that features an article from the ContraCosta Times dated August 2005.
The "more here" link is to a Salon article from May 2005.
The thing is, that is not what happens when a female prisoner in California gives birth.
The poster provided a link to a NYT article that points out within the first six paragraphs that California has a law that prohibits women prisoners from being shackled while giving birth. The article also points out within the first six paragraphs that the law went into effect January 2006.
The “medieval chamber of horrors” link is to a blog that features an article from the ContraCosta Times dated August 2005.
The "more here" link is to a Salon article from May 2005.
There are other links to a Amnesty International report from July 2003 and a Human Rights Watch report from October 2003.
I am on record in Metafilter discussions as being strongly in favor of prisoners being treated humanely and I think the practice of shackling women prisoners as they give birth is barbaric and appalling.
I also think this front page post was not researched as well as it could have been.
I move that it should be edited so that California is not listed as a state practicing something “out of a medieval chamber of horrors”.
I would have contacted the poster via email but he has no contact information on his user page.
posted by mlis at 10:17 PM on March 2, 2006