“California Female Inmates Sterilized Illegally”

“California Female Inmates Sterilized Illegally” July 2, 2014

through at least 2010:

…”The audit shows systemic failures by the federal receiver in the sterilization of female inmates,” Lieu said. “I’m also surprised that the receiver makes the argument that they had no legal duty to make sure the prison employees comply with the consent procedures. That is a ludicrous argument.”

The CIR investigation, published in July, found that 132 women received tubal ligations in violation of prison rules from 2006 to 2010 — and perhaps 100 more dating back to the late 1990s.

Former inmates and prisoner advocates maintain that prison medical staff coerced the women, targeting those deemed likely to return to prison in the future. The audit released Thursday notes that all women receiving tubal ligations had been incarcerated at least once before, indicating that they were repeat offenders. However, prison medical officials have denied any ill intent. …

Federal officials said none of the tubal ligations performed since 2006 received signoff by a state-level committee of medical professionals. State prison data indicates that more than half of the surgeries requested during that time period — 74 — came from Valley State. More than two-thirds of those came from Dr. James Heinrich, Valley State’s OB-GYN, or a nurse on his staff, according to the prison’s medical service request records.

Heinrich previously told CIR that the money spent sterilizing inmates was minimal “compared to what you save in welfare paying for these unwanted children — as they procreated more.”

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