HB28 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rolanda HollisRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Correction Dept., female inmates, prohibited practices regarding treatment of a pregnant female inmate or a female inmate who is in the immediate postpartum period

Summary

HB28 protects pregnant and immediate postpartum female inmates by banning certain searches and restraints and restricting solitary confinement and transfers.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill prohibits pregnant inmates from being required to squat or cough during strip searches and from undergoing vaginal exams unless a licensed health care professional prescribes them. It largely bans restraints on pregnant women during labor, delivery, or the immediate postpartum period, allowing only front-facing wrist handcuffs under strict conditions with documented justification. It also bars placing pregnant or postpartum inmates in solitary confinement or medical observation in solitary settings and requires expedited transfers from county jails when pregnancy is involved, with additional protections for medical restraints used by licensed professionals.

Who It Affects

• Pregnant women inmates and women in the immediate postpartum period, who receive protections during searches, exams, restraint use, and confinement.
• Correctional staff, including the Department of Corrections and sheriffs, who must enforce the new rules, document exceptions, and facilitate transfers.

Key Provisions

• Pregnant inmates may not be required to squat or cough during strip searches and may not be subject to vaginal examinations unless prescribed by a licensed health care professional.
• Pregnant inmates in labor, delivery, or the immediate postpartum period may not be restrained with handcuffs, waist shackles, leg irons, or other restraints, except wrists handcuffs in front may be used only if there are compelling grounds (immediate serious threat or substantial flight risk) and must be documented within two days of the incident.
• Medical restraints may be used by licensed health care professionals to ensure medical safety.
• Pregnant or postpartum inmates may not be placed in solitary confinement or in medical observation in solitary confinement, though solitary placement in a cell or hospital room by themselves is permitted.
• If a pregnant inmate in a county jail is temporarily held pending transfer to a state facility, transfer must be expedited and staff must make reasonable efforts to facilitate it.
• The act defines key terms (e.g., immediate postpartum period as six weeks after childbirth, pregnant woman as someone in second or third trimester) and establishes effective date rules (effective after the third month following passage/approval).

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

Subjects

Corrections Department