​What is the Women’s CARE Act?

RestoreHER’s National Dignity Campaign contains two pieces of legislation: 

• The Dignity For Incarcerated Women Act, advocating for the banning of shackling, solitary confinement, and for alternative sentencing through state and federal legislation. RestoreHER has been a leader in this fight, which has led to the passage of “Dignity” bills in 22 states since 2017, and in Federal legislation, The First Step Act in 2018. Most recently, Dignity passed and was signed into law in Alabama, completing our Southern effort for this legislation. 
• The Women’s CARE Act (WCA) is a historic bill and successor legislation to the Dignity For Incarcerated Women's Act. The Women’s CARE Act offers Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education (CARE), aimed at family unification, safety, and providing dignity to babies and their mothers in states across the nation. WCA​​ has the capacity to limit childhood trauma and behavioral problems.

WCA contains three main points:

1. A pregnancy test must be provided within 72 hours of arrest, allowing the woman to bond out with a positive result. 
2. If a pregnant woman is convicted and sentenced to prison, the sentence is deferred at least 12 weeks postpartum to allow for adequate perinatal care, proper nutritional nourishment, safe infant delivery, breastfeeding, family bonding, and care for their newborn babies.
3. Maintain records on statistics of incarcerated pregnant women and their outcomes in correctional facilities in states across the nation, in order to maintain the safety of babies and their mothers.

The Women's CARE Act may be modified based on the landscape of the state that the legislation is introduced, however the three main points will remain its basis of the policy. 

​With a bill like this in place, we have the capacity to limit childhood trauma and behavioral problems. There is potential for greater safety for women detained in the Georgia Department of Corrections and local jails. 
Learn more here.

There are a few things you can do to support the Women’s CARE Act​! ​

• Contact your lawmakers - Here
• Sign the Dignity For Incarcerated Women Act petition here: https://www.change.org/RestoreHERDIGNITY
• Support through social media using hashtags #WCA #EndPrisonBirth #DIGNITY and #Safety4Babies.

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Women’s CARE Act in the News

​Well+Good feat. Justice For Incarcerated Pregnant People

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Sophia Howard writes for The Brown Girl's Guide to Politics

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