FrozenInMinn
10-15-2004, 12:02 PM
News Break
October 15, 2004 @ 9:38:28 est
ACLU Fights Prison Abortion Roadblock
Phoenix The Maricopa County sheriff says he should not have to transport pregnant inmates to abortion clinics, a policy that has drawn a court challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union
Sheriff Joe Arpaio, an abortion opponent, only lets deputies ferry inmates when the trip is medically necessary, and abortions do not fall in that category, he said. He has only allowed such trips when inmates have court orders
"I don't run a taxi service from jail to an abortion clinic and back," said Arpaio, who gained notoriety for putting inmates on chain gangs and issuing them striped uniforms and pink underwear. "Where do you draw the line?"
The ACLU of Arizona said abortion is a constitutional right that does not disappear when a woman is sent to jail. Inmates may have to wait weeks to get a court order, they said
This is a very unreasonable policy, and it's a burden," ACLU attorney Angie Polizzi said.
The case began after deputies refused in May to transport an Estrella Jail inmate to a clinic where she had prepaid to have an abortion
The inmate tried twice unsuccessfully to get a court order for the ride before finally winning a temporary restraining order against the sheriff a day before her 14th week of pregnancy. That was the last opportunity before a more invasive, riskier two-day procedure was required, Polizzi said
Although the woman had the abortion, the ACLU is continuing the court battle. No trial date has been set
The sheriff's office does not keep records on how many inmates have received abortions, but an aide to Arpaio estimated the number at fewer than three a year from the jail
Of the 1,000 women currently in county jail, about 45 are pregnant
October 15, 2004 @ 9:38:28 est
ACLU Fights Prison Abortion Roadblock
Phoenix The Maricopa County sheriff says he should not have to transport pregnant inmates to abortion clinics, a policy that has drawn a court challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union
Sheriff Joe Arpaio, an abortion opponent, only lets deputies ferry inmates when the trip is medically necessary, and abortions do not fall in that category, he said. He has only allowed such trips when inmates have court orders
"I don't run a taxi service from jail to an abortion clinic and back," said Arpaio, who gained notoriety for putting inmates on chain gangs and issuing them striped uniforms and pink underwear. "Where do you draw the line?"
The ACLU of Arizona said abortion is a constitutional right that does not disappear when a woman is sent to jail. Inmates may have to wait weeks to get a court order, they said
This is a very unreasonable policy, and it's a burden," ACLU attorney Angie Polizzi said.
The case began after deputies refused in May to transport an Estrella Jail inmate to a clinic where she had prepaid to have an abortion
The inmate tried twice unsuccessfully to get a court order for the ride before finally winning a temporary restraining order against the sheriff a day before her 14th week of pregnancy. That was the last opportunity before a more invasive, riskier two-day procedure was required, Polizzi said
Although the woman had the abortion, the ACLU is continuing the court battle. No trial date has been set
The sheriff's office does not keep records on how many inmates have received abortions, but an aide to Arpaio estimated the number at fewer than three a year from the jail
Of the 1,000 women currently in county jail, about 45 are pregnant