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NEW: A pregnant woman in Alabama was accused of drug use + jailed to "protect her unborn child." She ended up giving birth in the jail shower after officers refused to take her to the hospital, leaving her to labor alone for 12 hours. She nearly died. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/13/alabama-pregnant-woman-jail-lawsuit

An Alabama woman was imprisoned for ‘endangering’ her fetus. She gave birth in a jail shower Exclusive: Ashley Caswell, one of a growing number of jailed pregnant women in Etowah county, is suing officials after she was denied care theguardian.com

@SamTLevin - Sam Levin

Ashley Caswell, represented by @PregnancyJust @splcenter @sullcrom, was jailed in Etowah County, AL to "protect her fetus," spending most her pregnancy sleeping on a mat on concrete floor, denied regular prenatal care and meds and nearly dying in labor alone in jail bathroom.

@SamTLevin - Sam Levin

@PregnancyJust @splcenter @sullcrom After her water broke, Ashley begged to be hospitalized, but guards told her to "sleep it off" "wait until Monday" "stop screaming" "deal with the pain" and that she was "not in full labor," her lawsuit alleges. Once she delivered, she was immediately separated from her baby.

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Ashley: “Giving birth to my son without any medical help in the jail shower was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. My body was falling apart, and no one would listen to me. No one cared. I thought I’d lose my baby, my life, and never see my other kids again.”

@SamTLevin - Sam Levin

Ashley is now in prison serving a 15-year sentence, after her conviction for "chemical endangerment" – a Class C felony alleging she exposed her fetus to drugs. The conviction does not require any evidence that the fetus was harmed. Her case is not unique.

@SamTLevin - Sam Levin

Data suggests Etowah County is the national leader in pregnancy criminalization -- with 257 arrests since 2015 of pregnant women + new moms who were jailed to "protect their unborn children" or punished for actions that allegedly endangered their fetuses https://www.al.com/news/anniston-gadsden/2023/07/one-alabama-county-pledged-to-crack-down-on-pregnant-drug-users-ten-years-later-has-it-gone-too-far.html#:~:text=Police%20in%20Alabama%20can%20arrest,2015%20to%202023%20involved%20women.

How one Alabama county declared war on pregnant women who use drugs In 2013, leaders in Etowah County said they would prosecute women who use drugs during pregnancy. But a string of controversial cases has raised questions about its approach. al.com

@SamTLevin - Sam Levin

The lawsuit from @PregnancyJust challenges the mistreatment of pregnant women in Etowah Co jail where women report being denied access to care + forced to labor alone behind bars. One woman lost her baby after jail refused to take her to hospital for five days after water broke

@SamTLevin - Sam Levin

@PregnancyJust “Etowah County claims they prosecute women to protect their fetus, or what they refer to as the ‘unborn child,' from harm. This case shows they’re doing precisely the opposite. Once they're in jail, they’re deprived of the most basic prenatal care + humane conditions.” @Emma_Roth