70.48.500 - Use of restraints on pregnant women or youth in custody -- Allowed in extraordinary circumstances.

Use of restraints on pregnant women or youth in custody — Allowed in extraordinary circumstances.

(1) Except in extraordinary circumstances no restraints of any kind may be used on any pregnant woman or youth incarcerated in a correctional facility or any facility covered by this chapter during transportation to and from visits to medical providers and court proceedings during the third trimester of her pregnancy, or during postpartum recovery. For purposes of this section, "extraordinary circumstances" exist where a corrections officer or employee of the correctional facility or any facility covered by this chapter makes an individualized determination that restraints are necessary to prevent an incarcerated pregnant woman or youth from escaping, or from injuring herself, medical or correctional personnel, or others. In the event the corrections officer or employee of the correctional facility or any facility covered by this chapter determines that extraordinary circumstances exist and restraints are used, the corrections officer or employee must fully document in writing the reasons that he or she determined such extraordinary circumstances existed such that restraints were used. As part of this documentation, the corrections officer or employee must also include the kind of restraints used and the reasons those restraints were considered the least restrictive available and the most reasonable under the circumstances.

     (2) While the pregnant woman or youth is in labor or in childbirth no restraints of any kind may be used. Nothing in this section affects the use of hospital restraints requested for the medical safety of a patient by treating physicians licensed under Title 18 RCW.

     (3) Anytime restraints are permitted to be used on a pregnant woman or youth, the restraints must be the least restrictive available and the most reasonable under the circumstances, but in no case shall leg irons or waist chains be used on any woman or youth known to be pregnant.

     (4) No correctional personnel or employee of the correctional facility or any facility covered by this chapter shall be present in the room during the pregnant woman's or youth's labor or childbirth, unless specifically requested by medical personnel. If the employee's presence is requested by medical personnel, the employee should be female, if practicable.

     (5) If the doctor, nurse, or other health professional treating the pregnant woman or youth requests that restraints not be used, the corrections officer or employee accompanying the pregnant woman or youth shall immediately remove all restraints.

[2010 c 181 § 5.]