Two days after Jimmy Jenkin’s article “Prisoners Induced Against Their Will” came out in print, we received a story by a new mother’s travail. We will call her “Cassie”. Cassie came to Perryville about 8 months pregnant. This is a synopsis of what she wrote. We have changed her name, but not the name of the officer that gave her so much grief.
” I was induced 3 times before my due date after I arrived at Perryville. I wasn’t even sure what being induced meant until a doctor explained it to me. When I asked why I can’t have the baby naturally, I was never given a straight answer, but repeatedly told it’s the way it is. At each trip to the hospital, the doctor said I was not dilated at all….maybe because it’s way too early?
I came to RnA with a notarized paper that gave my mother permission to take my baby. That paper was taken from me, and I was told I’d get it back after I got to a yard. I was feeling scared, frightened, and vulnerable. I went to see COIII Hegler to request a phone call to my mother (and POA), to give information to doctors about medical complications and allergic reactions, and make sure the hospital had that notarized paper to take the baby.
Hegler stonewalled me at every turn and was extremely rude. After phone calls to the prison from my mom, Hegler said, “Are you and your mom playing games? Do I have to Code Red you (shackled) to protect my officers?”. What was she talking about? Why does she think her officers are in danger from me? I started crying…what about my life and my unborn child… don’t we need protection too? What that COIII wanted, was for me to rush to have that baby so we wouldn’t be a liability to the prison.
I finally found the right person to insure my mom could take the baby home.
Why was CO Hegler being so unreasonable and vicious?! ALL the officers I encountered were rude, including the transport officers. After I finally had my baby, I wasn’t given 72 hours with her, only 48. What was my postpartum care??? I was sent back to Perryville to a filthy cell, unable to shower for 4 days, no clean clothes, no pads (despite having an 8 lb baby naturally), for 17 days. I was told, ” Hegler forgot you were here.”. I was not examined by a provider until 30 days later when I arrived at San Carlos.*