Pregnancy Rights

Working towards a more progressive criminal justice system is an important part of furthering the cause of reproductive justice. A criminal justice system that makes communities safer, protects personal liberty and limits abuses of power by governmental authorities will also further the cause of reproductive justice. Those who support a progressive criminal justice system will identify several common areas of advocacy with the Reproductive Justice movement. These include: opposing the criminalization of behaviors that are closely tied to unmet social service needs, especially mental health and substance abuse services; rejecting mass incarceration and the use of the criminal justice system to address problems better addressed through adequate social services; ensuring procedural safeguards, discouraging selective prosecution and protecting the constitutional rights of the accused; and advocating for fair, appropriate and humane sentences for those convicted of crimes.

The National Women’s Law Center released a new video, I Will Not Be Denied^TM, to highlight the important protections of the health care law and help you join the celebration to protect women’s health and the law.  This fact sheet follows the script of video so you can understand the important ways the health care law is already increasing women’s access to health care.