New bill restores dignity to female prisoners

In a rarity, Democrats and Republican state legislators unanimously acted upon a bill without the acrimony that normally accompanies any new legislation that could potentially cost money.

Confronting the inhumane and discriminatory conditions women in prison face, the 148 members of the House of Representatives passed Friday Senate Bill 13 – An Act Concerning Fair Treatment of Incarcerated Women — a bill the Senate adopted on Tuesday.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy spearheaded the bill — which he said will strengthen Connecticut’s efforts to bring fairness and dignity to women in prisons — and it now heads to his desk for his signature.

That is something to cheer about — and certainly something that has been a long time coming.

Over the last three decades, the rate of women serving time in prison has increased by 700 percent.

But the prison system was designed for men and for decades, the needs unique to women have been largely ignored.

Indeed, they have been downright cruel and humiliating.

Female prisoners have had to do without hygiene products during their menstrual cycles due to a lack of funds and go without seeing their children and family members due to cost or the long traveling distance to visit.

Some women have even been forced to give birth while being shackled.

We can’t imagine a more degrading experience — or why there are still 30 states that do not have laws to prevent it.

There are more than 200,000 women behind bars and more than 1 million women in the criminal justice system nationwide.

Here in Connecticut, 915 women call York Correctional Institute in Niantic home.

The first prison built for women was the Indiana Women’s Prison in 1868 and the first women walking through its doors to be confined was in 1872.

But it wasn't until 1927 that the federal government got involved, opening the Federal Industrial Institution for Women.

Much has changed but more change is needed. The new bill will:

Prohibit shackling of pregnant inmates during labor;

⏩ Require the DOC to provide female inmates with

⏩ feminine hygiene products at no cost;

Require the DOC to establish child-friendly visitation ⏩ policies;

Prohibit non-medical staff of the opposite gender ⏩ from viewing or interfering with incarcerated women engaged in personal activities such as undressing, using toilet facilities, or showering;

Require DOC to establish and provide parenting ⏩ support as well as pre-natal and post-partum services and supports;

Require DOC, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, and ⏩ the Court Support Services Division of the judicial branch to utilize a gender-responsible approach to risk assessment strategies that recognizes the unique risks and needs of female offenders;

Enhance requirements for gender-specific and trauma-related ⏩ trainings for correctional staff; and

Establish standards of treatment for inmates who ⏩ have a gender identity that differs from their assigned sex at birth.

We think these are conditions that should have been in effect long before 2018.

Malloy said of the many things he has accomplished in public life, the passage of the bill is among those he is most proud of and he looks forward to “signing this bill into law.”

We don’t think he can sign this bill fast enough.