HB585 Summary

• Prohibits restraints on pregnant prisoners in Alabama Department of Corrections custody or law enforcement custody from pregnancy confirmation through 12-week postpartum recovery period (or longer as determined by health care professionals).

• Allows restraints only in three exceptions: immediate and credible flight risk that cannot be prevented by other means, immediate and serious threat of harm to self or others, or when a health care professional determines restraints are medically necessary for prisoner safety.

• Restricts permissible restraints to exclude ankle/leg/waist restraints, hands restrained behind back, four-point restraints, or restraining prisoners to each other.

• Requires corrections officials and law enforcement to submit written reports within 30 days to the Commissioner, Julia Tutwiler Prison Warden, and health care provider when restraints are used, including facts, reasoning, details, and physical effects observed.

• Mandates annual compliance reports to legislature, requires notification of pregnant prisoners within 48 hours, establishes prisoner complaint process, and requires training for corrections and law enforcement personnel covering pregnancy identification and safe restraint application.