​What is the Women’s CARE Act?

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

• ​The Dignity For Incarcerated Women Act bans shackling, solitary confinement, and other detrimental to the safety of maternal-infant health 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, HR5682 First Step Act in 2018. Most recently, Dignity Alabama was passed and signed into law, completing our Southern effort for this legislation. 

• The Women’s CARE Act (WCA) is a historic bill and a successor legislation to the Dignity For Incarcerated Women Act. The Women’s CARE Act (WCA) 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. The Women’s CARE Act​​ has the capacity to limit childhood trauma and behavioral problems.

The Women’s CARE Act Consists of 3 Central 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 serve prison time, the sentence is deferred a minimum of 12 weeks postpartum and other alternative sentencing options, to allow for adequate perinatal care, proper nutritional nourishment, promote safe infant delivery, breastfeeding, family bonding, and essential custody arrangements for care of newborn babies
3. ​Maintain records on statistics of incarcerated pregnant women and their outcomes in local, state and federal correctional facilities 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 where the legislation is introduced, however the three central points will remain the same.

The Women’s CARE Act base legislation, offers a minimum of 12 weeks deferral for pregnant women who have been sentenced to prison time, and can be modified to include additional alternatives per state.
LEARN MORE HERE

RestoreHER Has Passed:

23 Dignity Bills & 1 Women’s CARE Act Bill
26 Bills total - including SB105 (GA) & First Step Act (Federal) 

ALABAMA - HB 411: Alabama Women’s CARE Act - Judiciary Committee Hearing - PASSED!

CALIFORNIA - AB 2160: California Women’s Care Act - Public Safety Committee Hearing - PASSED!

WCA Bills that have PASSED

WCA Resources

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 #ChildbirthAlternatives #UnifyFamilies #ProtectPregnantWomen #FamilyUnity  ​#WomensCareAct

Contact

TRASH Presentation - Johns Hopkins
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Beyond The Bars - Columbia University - CA UCLA

​Women’s CARE Act in the News