Facing mounting scrutiny over the health care of incarcerated pregnant people, Ohio legislators have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at closing a significant data gap: the outcomes of pregnancies occurring while individuals are in the custody of county jails or state prisons. Right now, these institutions are only required to report deaths — not miscarriages, stillbirths or even live births — a loophole that medical and advocacy groups say leaves countless vulnerable individuals invisible.
Lack of Data: A Hidden Health Crisis
At present, Ohio’s reporting requirements for incarceration facilities cover only in-custody deaths. There is no mechanism mandating the tracking of live births, miscarriages, stillbirths or complications experienced by pregnant people in jail or prison. The proposed legislation would require county jails and state correctional facilities to submit annual statistics on pregnancy outcomes to the state’s Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
This shift follows revelations that pregnant persons in custody may endure medical neglect — including untreated infections and delayed care — and that their suffering and losses go unacknowledged when no system tracks these events.
The Bill and Its Backers
Introduced on October 22 by both a Democratic representative and a Republican co-sponsor from the Toledo area, the measure seeks to demonstrate a commitment to maternal health even within institutions of incarceration. Supporters describe the effort as a way for Ohio to align its policies with broader “pro-life” and health protection goals by ensuring prenatal care and transparent outcome-reporting for all pregnant people — whether housed in jail, prison or holding facilities.
However, the measure has drawn caution from reproductive-health experts who say it lacks clarity on definitions and coverage. The bill does not stipulate how to classify or report categories such as miscarriages, stillbirths or live births — which could allow facilities to interpret requirements differently and avoid full disclosure.
Why Transparent Reporting Matters
By collecting standardized data on pregnancy outcomes during incarceration, lawmakers and health professionals hope to identify systemic gaps in care, allocate appropriate resources, and hold institutions accountable for pregnant people’s welfare. Historically, incarcerated individuals have faced worse outcomes than those in the general population; tracking outcomes is widely recognized as the first step toward reform.
Without this kind of data, it’s impossible to determine whether jails and prisons are failing pregnant people or putting them at heightened risk of complications. Advocates say better reporting could lead to improved prenatal protocols, quicker response to medical complaints and ultimately fewer pregnancy losses behind bars.
