Mentally ill pregnant woman 'forced' to give birth alone in prison cell, lawyer says

'It is unconscionable that any woman, particularly a mentally ill woman, would be abandoned in her cell to deliver her own baby,' says her lawyer

Her lawyer claims she was bleeding and alone in her jail cell until she gave birth without a doctor present (Getty)

A pregnant mentally ill woman was left alone in a prison cell for nearly seven hours after asking for help and eventually gave birth alone, her lawyer has said.

Tammy Jackson was “forced” to deliver her baby in an “isolation cell” in the Florida detention centre last month, public defender Howard Finkelstein said in a letter to Broward sheriff Gregory Tony.

He alleged that Ms Jackson was found lying in her cell by herself holding her newborn baby on the morning of on 10 April.

The prisoner had allegedly complained of contractions at 3.16am earlier that day.

“I am incensed and heartbroken after learning that a mentally ill client was forced to deliver her child alone in a jail cell,” Mr Finkelstein wrote.

Mr Finkelstein, who called for an immediate review of medical and isolation practices in the letter, added: “She was forced to deliver her baby alone”.

He alleged that Broward County Jail staff, as well as medical officials, knew Ms Jackson was at the end of her pregnancy when she was booked in late March.

Instead of rushing Ms Jackson to a hospital when she started saying she had contractions, staff contacted a doctor who only made his way to the prison at 7.22am, the letter says.

Ms Jackson was bleeding and alone in her jail cell, he claims, until she gave birth without a doctor present.

“It is unconscionable that any woman, particularly a mentally ill woman, would be abandoned in her cell to deliver her own baby,” Mr Finklestein wrote. “Your staff did not protect either Ms Jackson or her child. Despite their neglect and callous indifference, both Ms Jackson and her child survived. It remains to be seen how this gross negligence will affect Ms Jackson’s already fragile mental health.”

Chief Assistant Public Defender Gordon Weekes also signed the letter.

Gina Carter, Broward Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, said a doctor and two nurses turned up to care for both mother and child but she did not say when they arrived.

The sheriff’s office said they were informed of the incident two days after Ms Jackson gave birth and commenced an internal affairs probe into the issue.

Ms Carter told The Miami Herald Ms Jackson remains in custody for drug-related charges but the child is in the care of an “appropriate caregiver.” No details have been provided about what condition the baby is in.

Ms Jackson was arrested in late March on cocaine possession charges and was later released, court records show, but did not report to pre-trial services leading to a warrant for her arrest.