Banning the Use of Restraints on Pregnant Women In Custody – It is currently routine practice for officers in over one-third of U.S. corrections institutions to restrain pregnant and laboring women. Restraining pregnant women poses health and developmental risks to the mother and baby. Heeding these concerns, many states and federal agencies have passed policies limiting restraint use on this population. Federal legislation could ban the use of restraints on pregnant women in all corrections institutions, including jails, prisons, and detention centers, unless a legitimate safety or security concern exists.