900+ Women Criminally Charged for Their Conduct During Pregnancies
Researchers found 902 women faced 955 charges in 23 states as lawmakers pushed new penalties for pregnancy-related conduct after Dobbs.
- A new report from Pregnancy Justice found that more than 900 women faced criminal charges for conduct related to their pregnancies in 23 states since the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs decision.
- South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Alabama accounted for the vast majority of cases, with 381, 222, and 204 charges respectively, reflecting these states' near-total abortion bans enacted since Dobbs.
- Most charges involved child abuse or neglect allegations; researchers found 876 of 955 charges cited substance use during pregnancy or failure to obtain prenatal care. Law professor Madalyn Wasilczuk said the Dobbs ruling "really has affected how willing law enforcement and prosecutors are" to treat miscarriages as crimes.
- Jennifer Girdish, communications director for If/When/How, said women are "scared to go to the emergency room" after pregnancy loss. Earlier this month, Humboldt County, Nevada, paid $1.6 million to settle a constitutional rights claim from a woman charged after a 2018 miscarriage.
- Lawmakers in South Carolina and at least eight other states have introduced bills in recent years classifying abortion as homicide. Eric Scheidler, president of the Pro-Life Action League, warned it is "impossible to prosecute those abortions without enacting a police state.
18 Articles
18 Articles
900+ women nationwide criminally charged for their conduct during pregnancies
In the first three years after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to an abortion in June 2022, more than 900 women faced criminal charges for conduct related to their pregnancies, according to a new report. Most state laws that prohibit or regulate abortion seek to penalize those who provide abortions, not […]
900+ women criminally charged for their conduct during pregnancies • Maine Morning Star
In the first three years after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to an abortion in June 2022, more than 900 women faced criminal charges for conduct related to their pregnancies, according to a new report. Most state laws that prohibit or regulate abortion seek to penalize those who provide abortions, not […]
900+ women criminally charged for their conduct during pregnancies • Kentucky Lantern
In the first three years after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to an abortion in June 2022, more than 900 women faced criminal charges for conduct related to their pregnancies, according to a new report. Most state laws that prohibit or regulate abortion seek to penalize those who provide abortions, not […]
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