The directive expands rights for pregnant inmates to choose one non-medical person to support them as they give birth, and it allows a new mother to spend more time with a newborn before returning to prison.
Chris Gautz with the corrections department says the policy also sets new limits on the use of handcuffs and other restraints.
“Once a woman goes into labor, from the time that she starts labor, she would not be in restraints other than in very extreme circumstances.”
The directive also expands the use of birth plans and doulas. Pregnant inmates are housed at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Washtenaw County.