Woman Gives Birth ‘on Courtroom Bench’ During Arraignment in Brooklyn
Court officers delivered a baby boy after Samantha Randazzo, 33, went into labor while awaiting arraignment on low-level charges.
- On Friday, Samantha Randazzo, 33, gave birth on a Brooklyn courtroom bench while awaiting arraignment on drug possession and trespassing charges after spending over 24 hours in custody.
- Police arrested Randazzo on Thursday at the Nostrand Houses in Brooklyn for trespassing and drug possession; an open warrant made her ineligible for a desk appearance ticket, forcing her into full custody.
- A coalition of public defenders alleged Randazzo faced "trauma and humiliation" without medical care, claiming some staff "laughed and joked." Attorney Wynton Sharpe countered that court officers responded quickly and the judge cleared the room.
- As of Saturday, no charges have been filed against any officer or court staff member. Public defenders are demanding an "immediate and transparent investigation" into the incident and a review of protocols governing pregnant detainees.
- Previous lawsuits over shackling pregnant detainees cost New York City $610,000 in 2019 and $750,000 in 2021. Advocates argue settlements and amended patrol guides have not prevented such incidents, exposing persistent policy failures.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Woman gives birth on courtroom bench during NYC arraignment
Samantha Randazzo, 33, went into labor and delivered her child on a courtroom bench surrounded by police officers, prosecutors, and court personnel during her arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Friday night, according to a joint statement from the Legal Aid Society and several other public defender organizations.
Courtroom Staff Reportedly Laughed as Samantha Randazzo Delivered Her Baby Handcuffed to a Bench in Brooklyn
A 33-year-old woman gave birth while handcuffed to a courtroom bench in Brooklyn on Friday after spending more than 24 hours in New York City custody on minor charges. Samantha Randazzo, nine months pregnant at the time, went into labour during arraignment proceedings at the Brooklyn courthouse and delivered her child in open court without adequate medical care, according to a joint statement issued on Saturday night by a coalition of public def…
Woman gives birth inside NYC courtroom while handcuffed to bench, legal groups say
Public defenders demand urgent investigation after 33-year-old woman ‘in shackles’ delivers child inside Brooklyn courthouse
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