There are plenty of legal mis-steps lately all across this country. It seems that the holidays bring out the ‘grinch’ in some people.

Take, for instance, the story of the young woman who was giving birth recently in a nearby state. The tale is almost too horrific to recount. A Mexican citizen was arrested and charged with identity theft while completing a cleaning shift at a department store. Six months pregnant at the time - she was held in a secure facility and her ’special pregnancy diet’ was - well, anything but. Guards refused to acknowledge she had gone into labor at first but eventually transported her in shackles to the hospital where she remained handcuffed to the gurney during a c-section and afterwards. She was not allowed to hold or nurse her child and left the hospital on two feet and still in her gown. According to her, she received no post-birth care when was returned to her cell.

The Sherriff overseeing this county is considered one of the country’s toughest in regard to his stance on illegal immigrants.

Oh there’s much more written about this case. An independent study finds that: (a) a woman in her third trimester should not be restrained (b) an American citizen would have been treated with much more deference (even a female prisoner) and (c) a female prisoner has a right to be treated with some semblance of dignity and deference

My thoughts?

Where is the humanity?

David Breston is a leading Houston defense attorney. Contact the law firm of David Breston if you need a Houston criminal defense lawyer.