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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>56003</law_id><section_number>53.1-133.08</section_number><catch_line>Treatment of prisoners during postpartum recovery</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="53.1">Prisons and Other Methods of Correction</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Local Correctional Facilities</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7.1">Treatment of Prisoners Known to Be Pregnant</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> shall be used on any prisoner who is in <span class="dictionary">postpartum recovery</span> unless a <span class="dictionary">deputy sheriff</span> or <span class="dictionary">jail officer</span> makes an individualized determination that (i) such prisoner will harm herself, the fetus, the newborn child, or any other person; (ii) such prisoner poses a flight risk; or (iii) the totality of the circumstances creates a serious security risk. If such individualized determination is made that <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> are necessary, the <span class="dictionary">deputy sheriff</span> or <span class="dictionary">jail officer</span> shall consult with the health care provider treating such prisoner to ensure that such <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> are the least restrictive possible. In such case, the <span class="dictionary">deputy sheriff</span> or <span class="dictionary">jail officer</span> ordering the use of <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> shall notify a supervisor as soon as reasonably practicable and shall submit a report indicating the reason for the use of such <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> and what type of <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> were used no later than the conclusion of such <span class="dictionary">deputy sheriff</span>&#x2019;s or <span class="dictionary">jail officer</span>&#x2019;s shift. The supervisor shall submit a written report to the sheriff in charge of the <span class="dictionary">local correctional facility</span>, or his designee, or the jail superintendent of the regional correctional facility, or his designee, within 72 hours following the use of <span class="dictionary">restraints</span>, containing justification for restraining the prisoner. If <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> are used on a prisoner as authorized by this subsection, such <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> shall be immediately removed upon the request of any doctor, nurse, or other health care provider treating such prisoner if the <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> present a threat to the life or health of the prisoner, the fetus, or the newborn child. <a id="paragraph-205196" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-133.08/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Following the delivery of a newborn child by a prisoner, the sheriff or jail superintendent shall permit the newborn child to remain with the mother until discharge from the health care facility unless a licensed medical or mental health care professional has a reasonable belief that the newborn child remaining with the mother poses a health or safety risk to the newborn child. <a id="paragraph-205197" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-133.08/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2025, c. 698.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
