BOP Program Statement 5200.09 § 10

Some pregnant inmates may choose not to participate or may be unqualified for participation in

the above-described programs. Because these inmates may require special accommodations as

the pregnancy progresses, the unit team arranges for inmates to wear different uniforms upon

notification of pregnancy. These items are tailored to allow comfort during pregnancy-related

weight gain.

Generally, pregnancy does not interfere with an inmate’s ability to participate in Bureau

programs. When medical exemption from programming is necessary, medical staff indicate this

through the SENTRY and Bureau’s Electronic Medical Record (BEMR) Medical Duty Status

functions. Staff are also reminded of other considerations related to pregnant inmates:

■ The Department of Justice’s “Report and Recommendations Concerning The Use of

Restrictive Housing” states, “Women who are pregnant, who are post-partum, who recently

had a miscarriage, or who recently had a terminated pregnancy should not be placed in

restrictive housing. In very rare situations, a woman who is pregnant, is postpartum, recently

had a miscarriage, or recently had a terminated pregnancy may be placed in restrictive

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housing as a temporary response to behavior that poses a serious and immediate risk of

physical harm. Even in such cases, this decision must be approved by the agency’s senior

official overseeing women’s programs and services, in consultation with senior officials in

health services, and must be reviewed every 24 hours.”

■ The Bureau of Prisons will carefully consider restrictive housing placements affecting

females in any of the specified categories, taking into account the severity of the inmate’s

behavior and the Program Statements Inmate Discipline Program and Special Housing

Units. When placing any of these offenders in restrictive housing, the Warden must contact

the Women and Special Populations Branch Administrator, the Bureau Medical Director, and

the Correctional Services Administrator for further guidance and continuation of care.

■ There are significant special considerations on the use of restraints with pregnant females. If

restraints are used, under one of the exceptions listed above, only the least restrictive

restraints necessary to prevent harm or escape may be used. Under these exceptions,

restraints may not be placed around the ankles, legs or waist of the inmate; may not restrain

the inmate’s hands behind her back; and may not restrain the inmate using 4-point restraints

or restrain inmates to one another.

■ Medical staff may authorize additional nutritional or commissary items. This information is

documented in BEMR and provided to the Food Service Administrator and Trust Fund

Supervisor.

■ Unit staff may consider giving additional family visits or telephone calls, consistent with

national guidance, as the time of delivery nears, and after the birth of the child.

■ Medical staff may recommend a change in housing (closer to Health Services) or lower bunk

for safety reasons.

■ Post-natal care of the inmate does not necessarily end when she returns from the hospital.

Medical staff will evaluate and indicate through SENTRY and BEMR Medical Duty Status

functions any activity limits. Inmates are also referred to the institution’s Social Worker (or

Regional Social Worker if a local position is vacant) to address any concerns following

return to prison.

■ Females who have given birth have the option to pump breast milk with a pump provided by

the institution for as long as desired. Pumping allows the mother to nurse the child during

visits or to retain her milk supply until her release. Ordinarily, this milk is not stored, but

rather is disposed of by the inmate under staff supervision. There may be exceptions when

milk is stored at the facility; in these rare instances, the Warden requests approval from the

Health Services Division.

■ Nursing infants is permitted in the visiting room.

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REFERENCES

Program Statements

P1210.23 Management Control and Program Review Manual (8/21/02)

P1221.66 Directives Management Manual (7/21/98)

P1315.07 Legal Activities, Inmate (11/5/99)

P1542.06 Inmate Library Services (2/18/97)

P2100.04 Budget Execution Manual (3/18/14)

P4500.12 Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual (3/15/18)

P5100.08 Inmate Security Designation and Custody Classification (9/04/19)

P5267.09 Visiting Regulations (12/10/15)

P5270.09 Inmate Discipline Program (11/18/20)

P5270.11 Special Housing Units (11/23/16)P5300.21 Education, Training, and Leisure

Time Program Standards (2/18/02)

P5300.22 Volunteer Services (11/7/16)

P5310.15 Minimum Standards of Administration, Interpretation, Use of Education Tests

(09/04/96)

P5310.16 Treatment and Care of Inmates with Mental Illness (5/01/14)

P5310.17 Psychology Services Manual (8/25/16)

P5330.11 Psychology Treatment Programs (4/25/16)

P5350.24 English- as-a-Second Language Program (ESL) (7/24/97)

P5350.27 Inmate Manuscripts (7/27/99)

P5350.28 Literacy Program (GED Standard) (12/1/03)

P5353.01 Occupational Education Programs (12/17/03)

P5354.03 Postsecondary Education Programs for Inmates (12/17/03)

P5355.03 Parenting Program Standards (01/20/95)

P5360.09 Religious Beliefs and Practices (6/12/15)

P5370.11 Recreation Programs, Inmates (6/25/08)

24 P5538.08 Escorted Trips (4/8/24)

P6031.04 Patient Care (6/3/14)

P7310.04 Community Corrections Center (CCC) Utilization and Transfer Procedure

(12/16/98)

Other References

U.S. Department of Justice DOJ Report and Recommendations Concerning The Use of

Restrictive Housing (1/25/16)

ACA Standards (See Program Statement Directives Management Manual, Sections 2.5 and 10.3).

■ American Correctional Association Standards for Adult Correctional Institutions,. 5-ACI-3D-

04, 5-ACI-3D-05, 5-ACI-6A-10, 5-ACI-6A-21, 5-ACI-5E-02, 5-ACI-5E-10

■ American Correctional Association Performance Based Standards for Adult Local Detention

Facilities, 4th Edition: 4-ALDF-4C-13, 4-ALDF-4C-22M, 4-ALDF-6B-02.

■ American Correctional Association Standards for Administration of Correctional Agencies,

2nd Edition.

BOP Forms

BP-A0210 Institutional Referral for CCC Placement

BP-A0337 Inmate Load and Security Designation

BP-A0351 Medical/Psychological Pre-Release Evaluation

Records Retention

Requirements and retention guidance for records and information applicable to this program are

available in the Records and Information Disposition Schedule (RIDS) on Sallyport.

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Attachment A

Health Services staff are required to enter the MDS codes listed below.

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION

CODE

PRE-NATAL Pre-natal – Pregnancy

Confirmed – Inmate is notified

of Restraint Restrictions

PREG EDD Pregnancy-Expected Due Date

MRNOTIFIED MINT/Res Parent Notified of

MINTRPPINT MINT/Res Parent Interest

MINTRPPDCL MINT/Res Parent I/M Declined

MR MED YES MINT/Res Parent Med Appvl YES

MR MED NO MINT/Res Parent Med Appvl NO

MINTUNTYES MINT Unit Team Refd YES

MINTUNTNO MINT Unit Team Refd NO

RPP UNTYES RPP Unit Team Refd YES

RPP UNT NO RPP Unit Team Refd NO

MINTDENIED Denied MINT Placement

RPPDENIED Denied Res Parent Placement

MINT PL DT MINT Date of Placement

RPP PL DT Res Parent Date of Placement

POSTPARTUM Postpartum Recovery

BRSTPMP Breast Pump Provided

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