Justice Behind Bars:

Advocating for Pregnant and Postpartum Women's Rights in Georgia Prisons

Vanessa Garrett, Program Manager at Motherhood Beyond Bars, testified at a legislature regarding the mistreatment and neglect of pregnant and postpartum women in Georgia prisons. Motherhood Beyond Bars aims to provide support and services to these women and their families, focusing on maintaining family well-being. Despite the passage of House Bill 345, an anti-shackling law, women continue to experience neglect and mistreatment. Many instances of inadequate medical care, lack of hygiene supplies, and violations of basic human rights have been reported. Vanessa shared several distressing stories, including a woman who had to cut out her own infected stitches after being denied medical care. She also highlighted the silencing of inmates who tried to report issues and the risk of COVID-19 spreading due to unsafe conditions. Vanessa urged legislators to address these gross violations of human rights and offered herself as a resource for further inquiries.