# How easy (or difficult) is it to get an abortion in a U.S. prison? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 29, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926 "2015-11-29T13:45:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/1 "2015-11-29T13:45:32Z")
I’d guess the answer may vary for federal prisons vs state prisons - and for state prisons I’m sure it varies state to state. Recently saw on a T.V. show (I know, I know T.V. ain’t real), a woman in prison wanted to end a pregnancy. Her first plan was to pay another inmate to severely beat her- hoping to induce a miscarriage. The beating did not lead to a miscarriage but it did lead to a brief stay in the infirmary. When friends from outside the prison came to visit, she confesses what she was trying to achieve. On their next visit, the friends bring an abortifacient pill. It is not clear whether or not the friends had to sneak in the pill or if it was declared and allowed. So, since we agree that T.V. ain’t real, what’s it like in real life? If you’re in prison in the United States, you’re pregnant, and you want an abortion what are your options? I don’t remember who, but I know we have a poster here who is (or was) a prison doctor. Can a woman just ask to visit the infirmary and inform the doctor that she wants an abortion? ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/2 "2015-11-29T15:19:29Z")
The federal government and many states severely restrict or prohibit altogether the use of taxpayer money for abortions. [https://www.aclu.org/public-funding-abortion](https://www.aclu.org/public-funding-abortion) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/3 "2015-11-29T15:56:46Z")
Quagdop is the guy to ask… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/4 "2015-11-29T17:28:56Z")
The SCOTUS says that [female inmates have a constitutional right to abortions off jail grounds.](http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/24/scotus/index.html?_s=PM:US) ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/5 "2015-11-29T21:56:17Z")
Thanks, **John Mace**. I assume that SCOTUS decision applies to both federal and state prisons? In a state where abortion providers are few and far between, surely the government is providing government funding for abortion simply in the exorbitant travel costs for sending an inmate so far from the prison for a procedure that could be done with a pill in the infirmary? Gas + driver + guard has got to add up to an expensive taxpayer funded day trip! ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/6 "2015-11-29T22:04:27Z")
Actually, since that SCOTUS decision was simply to let the lower court decision stand, would it only apply to Arizona where the original case happened? Also, according to the article, it seems the lower court’s decision was influenced by the fact that the woman in this case was able to, and volunteered to, pay the transportation costs. If that were s factor in the decision, seems it may not apply for someone who can’t cover transportation costs (which I assume means gas + driver + guard). ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/7 "2015-11-29T23:36:31Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Quagdop is the guy to ask… You mean **Qadgop**. A quagdop is a kind of mollusc. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/8 "2015-11-29T23:41:36Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > You mean **Qadgop**. A quagdop is a kind of mollusc. 😃 Either way he works in a _men’s_ prison IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/9 "2015-11-30T03:57:16Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Either way he works in a _men’s_ prison IIRC. Shamefully difficult to get abortions there. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/10 "2015-11-30T07:56:05Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Either way he works in a _men’s_ prison IIRC. > [@Smeghead](#): > > Shamefully difficult to get abortions there. Sure, but I imagine the supply meets the demand. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/11 "2015-12-01T14:45:13Z")
**baby bump** ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/12 "2015-12-01T17:07:11Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Either way he works in a _men’s_ prison IIRC. I work for the state and oversee the care of all inmates, male, female, cis, trans, etc. I’m a consultant for many female inmates, including pregnant ones and trans women. Elective abortions are provided in our system. Frankly, it’s an infrequent occurrence. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/13 "2015-12-01T17:34:01Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Actually, since that SCOTUS decision was simply to let the lower court decision stand, would it only apply to Arizona where the original case happened? The article says that SCOTUS “let stand” the lower court decision, without commenting. That sounds like a denial of cert., not an appeal. If so, it isn’t a ruling on the merits and doesn’t have precedential value for other cases. The respondent was none other than Sheriff Joe Arpaio, I see. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-or-difficult-is-it-to-get-an-abortion-in-a-u-s-prison/738926/14 "2015-12-01T17:36:47Z")
Depends on where you are. [It’s almost impossible in Alabama](http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2015/07/alabama_inmate_drops_abortion.html). [This Op-Ed by the ACLU](http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/08/alls_not_well_at_the_end_of_an.html) has more details: > [@](#): > > … the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office refused to transport her to a health clinic. So we brought suit in federal court to ensure that Jane Doe would be able to exercise her constitutional right to an abortion. > > The case took a sideways turn some might describe as a soap opera moment. We call it reality in Alabama. The state sought to terminate Jane Doe’s parental rights while she was pregnant, and it asked to have a lawyer appointed to represent the interests of Jane Doe’s fetus. …