HB57 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

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

Summary

HB 57 would adopt federal First Step Act rules to limit restraints on pregnant prisoners in Alabama, with exceptions and required reporting and training.

What This Bill Does

It restricts the use of restraints on pregnant prisoners from pregnancy confirmation through postpartum recovery, with exceptions for flight risk, serious threat, or medical safety reasons. When restraints are used, they must be the least restrictive possible and certain restraints are prohibited. The bill requires detailed reporting for any restraint use, notifies prisoners within 48 hours of pregnancy confirmation, and requires ongoing training and annual compliance reports to ensure the rules are followed.

Who It Affects

• Pregnant prisoners in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections or under law enforcement custody, who would be protected from being restrained during pregnancy and postpartum unless specific exceptions apply.
• Corrections officials, law enforcement officers, health care professionals, and their agencies, who must apply the rules, keep records, report uses of restraints, provide training, and ensure compliance.

Key Provisions

• General prohibition: Pregnant prisoners cannot be placed in restraints from pregnancy confirmation until postpartum recovery, unless an exception applies.
• Exceptions: Restraints may be used if there is an immediate flight risk, immediate serious threat of harm, or medical safety concerns, and must be the least restrictive option available.
• Prohibited restraints: Restraints around ankles/legs/waist, hands tied behind the back, four-point restraints, or restraining a prisoner to another prisoner are not allowed.
• Health care input: A health care professional can require that restraints not be used, and authorities must comply with that request.
• Reporting requirement: If restraints are used, a written report detailing facts, reasoning, type and duration of restraints, and observed effects must be submitted within 30 days to the commissioner, the Julia Tutwiler Prison warden, and the supervising health care professional.
• HIPAA-compliant reporting: Reports must be de-identified as needed and protect prisoner privacy.
• Annual compliance reports: The commissioner and the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency must annually certify compliance and share non-identifying information with the Senate and House Judiciary Committees.
• Notice to prisoner: Within 48 hours of pregnancy confirmation, the prisoner must be informed about restraint restrictions.
• Violations process: A process must be established for prisoners to report potential violations of the restraint rules.
• Training guidelines: Training on restraint use during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum must be developed and integrated into programs, including recognizing pregnancy symptoms, when exceptions apply, safe restraint practices, reporting requirements, and respecting health care professionals’ requests.
• Consultation: Guideline development must involve health care professionals with expertise in pregnancy and postpartum care.
• Effective date: The act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Prisons and Prisoners