Perryville Prison in Buckeye, Arizona is accused of inducing the labor of pregnant prisoners against their will, the Arizona Republic reported. 

Three women incarcerated at the prison have come forward claiming they were forced by prison medical staff to have their labor induced before their due dates. Two of the women, Stephanie Pearson and Desiree Romero were induced at 39 weeks in 2022, according to medical records obtained by The Arizona Republic. The third accuser, Jocelyn Heffner says she was induced in her 37th week on two separate occasions during two separate incarcerations in 2020 and 2022.

The women said they were told by the prison medical providers that this was the

“Arizona Department of Corrections policy.”

The women say they were given no further explanation. Heffner told the outlet,

“I felt like I was viewed as a liability, and walking around a prison yard nine months pregnant didn’t comfort this state institution.” 

The Arizona Department of Corrections did not respond to a request for comment, the Arizona Republic reported. NaphCare, which took over the prison’s health care contract in October, has maintained its innocence, however.

“Any decision to induce is solely the patient’s choice,”

NaphCare’s spokesperson told the Arizona Republic 

#Clique, what are your thoughts?