The controversial practice of shackling female inmates
during labor is in the news once again—and this time the issue is even more contentious because it involves an
illegal immigrant. Juana Villegas of Nashville
was arrested for driving without a license just days before her due date. Although
the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said it would let her go on her own recognizance since she
was pregnant, Villegas was jailed until she could be sentenced for
her alleged traffic violation. And, since she had previously been deported, Villegas was considered a medium security inmate.
Unfortunately, Villegas went into labor before a judge could
see her. She was transported to the hospital in handcuffs, which remained on
for much of the labor—though just how much is disputed: Villegas' lawyer, Elliot
Ozment, says she was shackled by one wrist and one ankle until
shortly before the birth, while the sheriff’s office claims she was only
shackled by the ankle and that the cuffs were removed two hours before the birth.
Ozment, who is still deciding whether or not to file suit, also
claims that prison guards didn’t allow Villegas to bring a breast pump back to
jail with her, even though her breasts were painfully swollen since she was
forced to be separated from her infant for 34 hours while awaiting a hearing.
Every single person who commented on this story in The Tennessean felt that Villegas does
not deserve a shred of compassion, and that she received much better treatment than she deserved. What do you think?
Photo: Zuma Press
