Pregnancy Justice

Pregnancy Justice defends the civil and human rights of pregnant people, focusing on those most likely to be targeted for investigation, arrest, detention, or family separation: people who are poor or have low income, people of color, and people who use drugs, as examples. The organization and staff are guided by the principles of reproductive justice, which is defined by SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective as: the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.

We believe that the criminal legal system and family policing system, commonly known as the child welfare system, should never be involved in pregnancy and pregnancy-related outcomes; that all people are entitled to dignity, equality, and respect; and that the threat of pregnancy criminalization, like the criminal legal system itself, is deeply rooted in racism and targets communities of color and people who are poor.

While Pregnancy Justice must operate within the criminal legal system and the family policing system, we also recognize that we must work to dismantle all discriminatory systems of oppression. Since its founding over 20 years ago, Pregnancy Justice has worked across disciplines including reproductive rights and justice, public health, drug policy, criminal justice reform, racial justice, and prosecutorial accountability, among others, to achieve its mission.

In 2023, Pregnancy Justice continued its vital work in advocating for the rights of pregnant individuals and fighting the ways that people’s rights are threatened because of pregnancy or any pregnancy outcome, including pregnancy loss, abortion, or birth. The organization trained more than 3,000 professionals—including healthcare providers, legal experts, and policymakers—providing discipline-specific guidance on how they can take action against pregnancy criminalization. Pregnancy Justice also provided legal support to 60 individuals facing pregnancy-related criminal charges, family separation or other violations of their rights across 15 states, while partnering and publishing impactful reports and actively engaging in policy work by supporting or opposing 16 pieces of legislation. Additionally, the organization contributed to 4 amicus briefs in key legal cases across multiple states, offering direct assistance and resources to nearly 200 individuals seeking help. These efforts highlight Pregnancy Justice’s ongoing commitment to promoting reproductive justice and dismantling discriminatory systems that disproportionately affect communities of color. For more information on their work, visit Pregnancy Justice's Impact Report.