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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82271</law_id><section_number>53.1-40.12</section_number><catch_line>Treatment of prisoners known to be pregnant</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>53.1-40.14</reference></referred_to_by><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="2">State Correctional Facilities</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2.2">Treatment and Control of Prisoners Known to Be Pregnant</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The following <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> shall not be used on any prisoner known to be pregnant upon notification or diagnosis of the pregnancy and for the duration of the pregnancy, unless there is an individualized determination that the prisoner will harm herself, the fetus, the newborn child, or any other person or poses a substantial flight risk: (i) leg <span class="dictionary">restraints</span>, (ii) handcuffs or other wrist <span class="dictionary">restraints</span>, except to restrain the prisoner&#x2019;s wrists in front of her, or (iii) <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> connected to other inmates. If there is an individualized determination that the prisoner will harm herself, the fetus, the newborn child, or any other person or poses a substantial flight risk and <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> are used, such <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> shall be the least restrictive possible. <a id="paragraph-294819" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.12/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> shall be used on any prisoner known to be pregnant while in labor or during delivery unless there is an individualized determination that the prisoner will harm herself, the fetus, the newborn child, or any other person or poses a substantial flight risk. If there is an individualized determination that the prisoner will harm herself, the fetus, the newborn child, or any other person or poses a substantial flight risk and <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> are used, such <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> shall be the least restrictive possible. In such case, the employee ordering the use of <span class="dictionary">restraints</span> on any prisoner known to be pregnant while in labor or during delivery shall submit a written report to the warden or other official in charge of the <span class="dictionary">state correctional facility</span> within 72 hours following the use of <span class="dictionary">restraints</span>, containing the justification for restraining the prisoner. <a id="paragraph-294820" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.12/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> No employee of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> other than a licensed health care professional shall conduct body cavity searches of prisoners known to be pregnant unless the employee has a reasonable belief that the prisoner is concealing contraband. In such case, the employee shall submit a written report to the warden or other official in charge of the <span class="dictionary">state correctional facility</span> within 72 hours following the body cavity search, containing the justification for the search and what contraband was found, if any. <a id="paragraph-294821" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.12/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall not place any prisoner known to be pregnant in <span class="dictionary">restrictive housing</span> or <span class="dictionary">solitary confinement</span> unless an employee of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> has a reasonable belief that the inmate will harm herself, the fetus, the newborn child, or any other person or poses a substantial flight risk. In such case, the employee authorizing the placement of the inmate in <span class="dictionary">restrictive housing</span> or <span class="dictionary">solitary confinement</span> shall submit a written report to the warden or other official in charge of the <span class="dictionary">state correctional facility</span> within 72 hours following the transfer, containing the justification for confining the prisoner in <span class="dictionary">restrictive housing</span> or <span class="dictionary">solitary confinement</span>. <a id="paragraph-294822" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.12/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall ensure that prisoners known to be pregnant are provided sufficient food and dietary supplements as ordered by a licensed physician or physician staff member to meet generally accepted prenatal nutritional guidelines for pregnant women. <a id="paragraph-294823" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.12/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall not assign any prisoner known to be pregnant to any bed that is elevated more than three feet from the floor of the facility. <a id="paragraph-294824" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.12/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, c. 526.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
