Shackling Pregnant Prisoners: Cruel and Unusual or Justified and Necessary

Abstract

In “Shackling Pregnant Prisoners: Cruel And Unusual Or Justified And Necessary?”, Ring analyzes the constitutionality of imposing physical restraints on pregnant incarcerated women. Drawing on precedent from Nelson v. Corr. Med. Servs. and Hope v. Pelzer, Ring concludes that shackling pregnant prisoners is a violation of eighth amendment rights and often causes unnecessary harm to women’s wellbeing.