Arkansas Blog

How do we expect change when our officials in charge are all insane. I say, stick a watermelon up the court's behinds and then tie their legs together. They will love that.

They were simply obeying Scripture.

(Genesis 3:16) - "To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you shall bring forth children; Yet your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you."

Not like she's going to get up an run off in the middle of the delivery.

Well what rights do women have?

I swear it's like all the children in "Lord Of The Flies" grew up and took over our country.

Has anyone read this case?

"Upon arrival at the hospital, Nelson was immediately admitted to the labor and
delivery unit where Officer Turnesky shackled Nelson to the bed's handrail. Nelson
remained handcuffed and shackled until the medical staff needed to access Nelson's
arms for drawing blood and to determine how far Nelson had dilated, at which time
the handcuffs and shackles were removed. For the majority of the labor time,
however, Nelson remained shackled by, at least, one ankle to the bed handrail. When
the doctor arrived for the delivery and requested removal of the restraints, Officer
Turnesky removed the restraints. After giving birth to her son, Nelson was again
placed in leg restraints. Officer Turnesky testified she did not ever feel threatened by
Nelson at any time."

Seems reasonable to me. She wasn't shackeled during the delivery phase.

Just sayin!

Arky

Well, Arky, the 'delivery phase' sometimes has a mind of its own, and that was just for the convenience of the doctors I presume. Being shackled during labor is my definition of torture.

Everyone with duties in connection with our prison system, from the Governor to guards, should look at this case in a manner similar to the advice Elihu Root is reported to have given a client about a century ago:

"The law lets you do it, but don't, it is a rotton thing to do."

I see no one has mention that this particular inmate was:

-a non-violent criminal with a short sentence

-now out working in the community, perhaps even in your office

-has a Master's degree in Economics

Just sayin'...

Don't know what phase of delivery she was in when she got to the hospital, but is the idea that walking around during labor is better for circulation and can result in a shorter and easier delivery, and maybe even a healthier baby, outmoded?

"Seems reasonable to me. She wasn't shackeled during the delivery phase. -Arky"

Have alot of experience birthing babies do you Arky?

Legally, it seems...

since no evidence was introduced to show damage to the baby, any thing that "furthers peneological interests" was/is fair game. I guess if the baby had died, there could have been a case.

What is good for the baby and the mother doesn't matter one iota.

Tis real clear, Beebe and his puppet Norris couldn't care one bit about the what's healthy, moral, or ethical concerning the innocent, unborn children being housed in Arkansas's prisons.

I'll be in my late 80s when Tom DeLay goes to trial. The black Congressman in Florida with cash in his freezer is never going to be brought to trial...and hey gang...I'm talking about a Democrat here. We're waiting years for the wheels of justice to turn. So for my tax money, they could have let this woman have 3 more months before reporting to prison in which time she could have had her baby. If she was a killer....maybe.....violent...maybe....she was in for credit card fraud and writing hot checks. Not a danger to my family. So 3 more months wouldn't have hurt anyone.

That she was black had a lot to do with it....you know that. No doubt a lot of the same people who scream abortion is murder were involved with chaining this woman up during childbirth. I'll never ever understand the love of God displayed by many of his moonie followers....sheesh!

We're 48th and we deserve to be 48 and some day Mississippi is going to smarten up a bit and we'll be 49th. 100 years from now some talking head will feature this case in a documentary on 21st century injustice in the South....same old story...different century. Why do people want to do medieval things that will be paraded forever in the future.

Everyone pictured screaming insults at the LR 9 in 1957 wish like hell they'd been home sick that day. I guess welding power over the weak is just too damn much fun to resist. In Bush's 3rd term people like Shawanna Nelson will be put to sleep like an old dog and the Christians will cheer about another angel in heaven. Happy 48th to you all!

The law lets you do it, but don't, it is a rotton thing to do.

Best response yet.

As I join in I agree with many that this should not have happened.. That child will one day be told it was in prison and its mom was shackled to the gurney when is was born..how do you think that would afect that persons mind knowing that..?
I hope it never finds out... Yes DBI said it, there are many damn sorry ass politicians that should be in prison...
Communism should have been outlawed in this country.. Each of us are in shackles and we are too dumb to see it...