Woman wrongly convicted of arson pressured to terminate pregnancy while incarcerated

Episode 4 of the ‘Wrongly Accused’ podcast focuses on Annette Hewins’ traumatic experience of being pregnant and giving birth while being held on remand at Eastwood Park prison in 1996. Annette was wrongly convicted of arson and was advised by the prison’s head of maternity to have an abortion. She was later acquitted of the crime she was charged with. Annette’s daughter Nicole Jacob sheds light on her mother’s miscarriage of justice and her tragic death in 2017, shortly after being detained in a mental health unit.

Annette’s story highlights the risks pregnant women face in prison, as she was kept in custody while carrying her son Joshua, despite making multiple bail applications. The head of maternity at the prison even suggested that she should terminate her pregnancy. The Birth Companions charity was established in 1996, coinciding with Annette’s case, to provide support for pregnant women and new mothers in prison after shocking revelations of women being chained to officers during labor at HMP Holloway. The podcast also mentions the tragic deaths of babies Aisha Cleary and Brooke Leigh in prison due to negligence of staff in responding to labor.

The focus on Annette Hewins’ case sheds light on the treatment of pregnant women in prison and the risks they face in such environments. Even today, one in three pregnant women in prison are held on remand, like Annette. Despite the majority of these women not receiving custodial sentences, the risks and challenges faced by pregnant inmates remain significant. The Sentencing Council recently announced that pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period should be considered as mitigating factors in sentencing decisions, urged by Birth Companions in a step towards ending the imprisonment of pregnant women and new mothers.

Annette’s story is a powerful example of the mistreatment of pregnant women in the criminal justice system. The alarming cases of Aisha Cleary and Brooke Leigh underscore the urgent need to reform policies surrounding pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care in prison. Annette’s experience, along with the advocacy efforts of organizations like Birth Companions, has sparked a conversation about the criminalization and imprisonment of pregnant women and mothers of young children. The tragic outcomes of these cases highlight the necessity for compassionate and appropriate support for pregnant women in the criminal justice system.

The ‘Wrongly Accused’ podcast series, through Annette Hewins’ ordeal, aims to bring awareness to the systemic issues that pregnant women face in prison. Annette’s daughter Nicole Jacob’s pursuit of justice for her mother emphasizes the need for reform and the protection of the rights of pregnant inmates. By sharing Annette’s story and the advocacy work undertaken by Birth Companions, the podcast seeks to drive positive change and foster better outcomes for pregnant women and new mothers in the criminal justice system. The episode underscores the importance of addressing the challenges faced by pregnant women in prison and promoting a more compassionate and humane approach to their care and treatment.