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Sen. Ossoff Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Protect Pregnant Women in Prison

Senator Jon Ossoff at Senate hearing.
Senator Jon Ossoff at Senate hearing.

Senator Jon Ossoff has introduced legislation to protect pregnant women who are incarcerated. Ossoff and Louisiana Republican Senator John Kenndy introduced the bipartisan Births in Custody Reporting Act. The measure is meant to strengthen federal oversight of pregnancy care in prisons and jails. It would require states to report statistical information regarding care and outcomes from individuals in custody to the Attorney General.

That information would include the number of pregnant individuals in custody, their length of stay in custody, any pregnancy outcomes that occur while such individuals are in custody, and whether births took place inside the facility or at a hospital.

States that fail to provide the requested data would face up to a 10% reduction in federal funding.

Alexia Ridley joined WUGA as Television and Radio News Anchor and Reporter in 2013. When WUGA TV concluded operations, she became the primary Reporter for WUGA Radio. Alexia came to Athens from Macon where she served as the News Director and show host for WGXA TV. She's a career journalist and Savannah native hailing from the University of Michigan. However, Alexia considers herself an honorary UGA DAWG!