A new bipartisan criminal justice reform bill called the First Step Act has been signed into law by Donald Trump, banning the restraint of pregnant inmates during pregnancy, labour, and postpartum recovery in federal prisons.

With exceptions for the safety of the inmate, those around them, and if the inmate is a flight risk, the new law aims to eliminate the risks that come to both the pregnant person and the foetus from restraint by disallowing their use. It was documented in 2011 that restraints during pregnancy, labour, and delivery have negative impacts on foetal care and delivery.

The new law has been criticised for not creating major systematic change, as the Federal Bureau of Prisons ceased its use of restraints on pregnant people in 2008.

However, the First Step Act takes the policy one step further, making it law, and adding greater precautions. The FBP now must track how many pregnant inmates it has and the outcomes of the pregnancies, as outlined by the new law.

The Sentencing Project reports the majority of pregnant people are not in federal prison, but in state and local penitentiaries, meaning many pregnant prisoners will be unaffected by the new law.

UK prison conditions: in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 UK prison conditions: in pictures UK prison conditions: in pictures A cell covered in graffiti at HMP Liverpool. PA UK prison conditions: in pictures HMP Liverpool has some of the worst conditions inspectors have seen. HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA UK prison conditions: in pictures A broken window in a cell at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA Wire UK prison conditions: in pictures A shower unit with protruding electric cable at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA UK prison conditions: in pictures Litter at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA Wire UK prison conditions: in pictures A wall damaged by damp at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA UK prison conditions: in pictures A pool table at HMP Liverpool HM Inspectorate of Prisons/PA UK prison conditions: in pictures A sign for HMP Liverpool, where drones are seized at a rate of more than one a week. The prisons watchdog flagged up the impact of the remote-controlled flying devices at HMP Liverpool. PA

The First Step Act was sponsored by 2020 Democratic presidential nomination hopeful Elizabeth Warren.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events