BCRA of 2025

This bill would require states that get certain federal justice grants to send quarterly, anonymous reports to the U.S. Attorney General about people who are pregnant or who give birth while in jail or prison, including juvenile facilities. Reports must cover basics like how many pregnant people are in custody, whether they got a pregnancy test within a week of arrival and an early prenatal visit, what the pregnancy outcomes were, where care or delivery happened, any use of restraints, postpartum care up to 12 weeks after birth (including depression screening and a check-up within two weeks), and any time spent in restrictive housing while pregnant or postpartum. The data must be anonymous and aggregated, and cannot include names or other personal information.

States have 120 days to begin reporting, with up to 120 more days if they are making a good‑faith effort. If a state doesn’t comply, it may lose up to 10% of certain federal justice grant funds, which can be reallocated to states that do comply. The Attorney General must post these reports for the public, study the data to find ways to improve care, and send a report to Congress within two years.

• Who is affected: State governments that receive federal justice grants; people who are pregnant, give birth, or are postpartum in jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities.
• What changes: Regular public reporting on pregnancy care, outcomes, use of restraints, postpartum care, and restrictive housing in custody; data must be anonymous.
• When: Reporting starts within 120 days of enactment (with a possible 120‑day extension); a national study and report to Congress are due within two years.