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NYC eyes new requirements for treatment of pregnant people in police custody
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Aug 28, 2026
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By
Giulia Heyward
Published Aug 28, 2026
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New York City could impose new requirements on the NYPD's treatment of pregnant New Yorkers in custody and require police to track children who are present when their parents or caregivers are arrested.
The push comes after a high-profile incident earlier this year when a woman gave birth in a Brooklyn courtroom. The City Council bills were introduced three months after Samantha Randazzo, then nine months pregnant, gave birth to a boy while in NYPD custody after she was arrested on low-level drug and trespassing charges.
Public defenders and legal advocates have said prosecutors could have declined to prosecute the case or a judge could have dismissed it.
The city has previously settled lawsuits with other women who said they were forced to give birth while restrained by officers, including an incident in 2018 when a woman was arrested two days after her due date and went into labor in a holding cell without water.
The Queens elected official behind the newly introduced legislation said she drafted the bills “almost immediately” after she learned of this year’s incident.
“I was instantly just furious at the lack of dignity and respect that was shown to this woman and just the lack of thought from anyone having the thought that this is an emergency situation and that actions need to be taken to get her the proper medical attention,” Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers said in a statement. “At the end of the day, she’s still just a person enduring one of the most vulnerable moments in her life.”
The first bill, Intro. 995, would require the NYPD to train officers on laws, rules and policies governing the use of restraints on people in custody who are pregnant or postpartum. It would also require the department to publicly report each year on how many officers received the training.
The second bill, Intro. 996, would require the police department to report quarterly on arrests where a child was present, including the number and ages of the children and whether they were left in the care of another adult.
The legislation is backed by several organizations that advocate for currently and formerly incarcerated New Yorkers and their families, including the Bronx-based Osborne Association.
“When an individual is involved in the criminal justice system there are these ripple effects that benefit all of us to pay attention and to support children who are affected by their parents’ arrest and incarceration,” said Tanya Krupat, the organization’s vice president for policy and advocacy.
The city legislation comes after state lawmakers passed a bill that would restrict the use of restraints on people in police custody who are pregnant, in labor or delivery or within 12 weeks after a pregnancy ends, with limited exceptions.
That bill, which was originally introduced in January 2025, swiftly passed the state Senate and Assembly weeks after Randazzo gave birth in May. The legislation is awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul's signature.
“We are reviewing the legislation. The Mamdani administration is committed to delivering a criminal justice system that safeguards the health and well-being of all New Yorkers, including those who are pregnant and post partum," Sam Raskin, Mayor Mamdani's Deputy Press Secretary, said in a statement. *"*We also are dedicated to ensuring that all city agencies take appropriate transparency measures.”
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new york city
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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