SB386 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Prisoners, adopting federal procedures for use of restraints on pregnant women

Summary

SB 386 would adopt federal guidelines to restrict restraints on pregnant prisoners in Alabama, with required reporting, training, and oversight.

What This Bill Does

It generally bans using restraints on a pregnant prisoner from the time pregnancy is confirmed until postpartum recovery, except in specific safety or medical situations. When restraints are allowed, they must be the least restrictive and certain restraint methods are prohibited. The bill requires detailed reporting within 30 days of any restraint use, 48-hour notification after pregnancy confirmation, and annual compliance reports, along with training requirements and a process to report violations.

Who It Affects

• Pregnant prisoners in the custody of the Department of Corrections or law enforcement officers, who would be protected from restraint use except under defined exceptions and who must be notified of restrictions.
• Corrections officials, law enforcement officers, health care professionals, and the involved agencies (Department of Corrections, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, and Julia Tutwiler Prison staff) who must apply the rules, document restraint use, provide training, and report compliance.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits restraining a pregnant prisoner from pregnancy confirmation to postpartum recovery, except for specific allowed circumstances.
• Allowed exceptions include immediate flight risk, immediate serious threat of harm, or medical safety justification by a health care professional.
• If restraints are used, they must be the least restrictive and certain restraint types are prohibited (no ankle/leg/waist restraints, no hands-behind-back restraint, no four-point restraints, no tying to another prisoner).
• Health care professionals may request no restraints and can determine medical safety exceptions; such requests must be honored.
• A written restraint-use report must be submitted within 30 days, detailing facts, reasoning, type and duration of restraints, and observed effects, to the commissioner, the Julia Tutwiler Prison warden, and the health care professional.
• Reports must be HIPAA-compliant, de-identified, and privacy-protected.
• Prison officials must notify a prisoner within 48 hours of pregnancy confirmation about restriction rules.
• A formal process to report violations must be established, with training guidelines developed for pregnancy-related restraint use.
• Annual compliance reports detailing adherence to the act must be submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Prisons and Prisoners