National Advocates for Pregnant Women has secured the release of five Alabama women from the Etowah County Jail who were held indefinitely on the same unconstitutional bond conditions: $10,000 cash and mandatory inpatient drug treatment — even if they don't need it or if inpatient beds are unavailable.
The released women still await trial, and we're working to secure the release of others. Almost all of these prosecutions are for "chemical endangerment of a child," a law that was never meant to apply to pregnancy, leading to family separations and "child welfare" cases.
Although judges have started ordering less onerous bond conditions — due to NAPW's advocacy — women who cannot afford a lower bond, court-mandated monitoring, drug-testing fees, and other fees will still be detained. We started the Etowah County Jail Pregnant/Postpartum Relief Fund to support them. All donations will pay for local counsel and related case fees and essentials.
Join us in the fight for the equality and dignity of pregnant and postpartum Alabamians.