The Court of Appeal has delivered a paramount decision overturning the prison sentence of a pregnant woman, aged 22, who is almost eight months pregnant and diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The woman was serving a five-year sentence for firearm and ammunition possession, and she only discovered her pregnancy upon arrival in prison. Campaigners argue against housing pregnant women in prisons, citing risks to their health and the safety of their babies. In this case, the court replaced the original sentence with a two-year suspended sentence with a rehabilitation requirement, considering the exceptional circumstances. The decision is hailed as a landmark by advocates, who emphasize the dangers of imprisoning pregnant women and call for alternative sentencing practices. The Ministry of Justice highlights efforts to improve care for pregnant women in jail but acknowledges that custody is always the last resort.
Read more here: Pregnant woman’s jail sentence quashed in ‘landmark’ UK ruling | Prisons and probation | The Guardian