The Births in Custody Reporting Act of 2025 mandates that states receiving specific federal funds report anonymized and aggregate information to the Attorney General concerning pregnant inmates and those who give birth while in custody. These quarterly reports must cover various correctional facilities, including jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities, within the state's jurisdiction. The required information is comprehensive, detailing the total number of pregnant inmates, their race and ethnicity, and the quarter of their admission. It also tracks whether inmates received timely pregnancy tests and prenatal visits with qualified medical professionals. Crucially, the reports must include pregnancy outcomes such as live birth, stillbirth, miscarriage, and maternal or neonatal death, noting where these events occurred. Furthermore, the bill requires data on the use of restraints on pregnant inmates, specifying the type, justification, and timing (during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, or during transit). It also seeks information on postpartum care, including screenings for postpartum depression and timely medical appointments. The reports must also detail the number of pregnant or postpartum inmates placed in restrictive housing , the reasons, and duration. States have 120 days to comply, with a potential extension, and failure to do so may result in up to a 10 percent reduction in certain federal funds. The Attorney General is tasked with making these reports publicly available and conducting a study to identify ways to improve the treatment of pregnant and postpartum inmates, examining the relationship between adverse outcomes and facility management actions. A report on these study findings must be submitted to Congress within two years.
The Births in Custody Reporting Act of 2025 mandates that states receiving specific federal funds report anonymized and aggregate information to the Attorney General concerning pregnant inmates and those who give birth while in custody. These quarterly reports must cover various correctional facilities, including jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities, within the state's jurisdiction. The required information is comprehensive, detailing the total number of pregnant inmates, their race and ethnicity, and the quarter of their admission. It also tracks whether inmates received timely pregnancy tests and prenatal visits with qualified medical professionals. Crucially, the reports must include pregnancy outcomes such as live birth, stillbirth, miscarriage, and maternal or neonatal death, noting where these events occurred. Furthermore, the bill requires data on the use of restraints on pregnant inmates, specifying the type, justification, and timing (during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, or during transit). It also seeks information on postpartum care, including screenings for postpartum depression and timely medical appointments. The reports must also detail the number of pregnant or postpartum inmates placed in restrictive housing , the reasons, and duration. States have 120 days to comply, with a potential extension, and failure to do so may result in up to a 10 percent reduction in certain federal funds. The Attorney General is tasked with making these reports publicly available and conducting a study to identify ways to improve the treatment of pregnant and postpartum inmates, examining the relationship between adverse outcomes and facility management actions. A report on these study findings must be submitted to Congress within two years.