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A woman was left “traumatized and humiliated” after being forced to give birth while handcuffed to a bench inside a New York courtroom after being held in custody for over 24 hours, a legal aid group has said.

Samantha Randazzo, 33, went into labor and was forced to deliver her child on a courtroom bench in Brooklyn on Friday “without adequate medical care, privacy, or dignity,” according to a statement from a group of public defenders and legal advocates.

Randazzo was surrounded by law enforcement, prosecutors and courtroom staff, some of whom reportedly laughed and joked at the situation, the group claimed. “She deserved care, compassion, safety, and dignity. Instead, she was subjected to trauma and humiliation in full public view,” the statement read.

The Independent has requested comment from the New York courts system.

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[-] RBWells@lemmy.world 39 points 6 hours ago

She was 9 months pregnant and they couldn't wait and schedule her court date after the birth?

Clearing the room is not a good defense. Have you ever had a baby? I have, and handcuffed it would be terrifying. Being in court IN ACTIVE LABOR should not be allowed at all, how can you give real answers or pay any attention to what is going on?

[-] TimboSlice@discuss.online 3 points 1 hour ago

This is the US we're talking about here..

[-] anotherspinelessdem@lemmy.ml 1 points 58 minutes ago

Pretty much the American moral ceiling

[-] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 23 points 6 hours ago

They didn't even uncuff her. As if what, she'd escape in the middle of childbirth?

I hope she sues the ever living shit out of them.

[-] FoxyFerengi@startrek.website 54 points 8 hours ago

This is some medieval bullshit.

[-] youcantreadthis@quokk.au 18 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

This would not have been allowed in midaevil europe in most cases

[-] mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 hour ago

ah, but in medieval US, very common

[-] youcantreadthis@quokk.au 1 points 3 hours ago

Maybe the Aztecs but they had like a dying in childbirth is technically a warriors death thingso probably not or can really see romans maybe trojans but not midaevol Europe Americas eras differently but yeah I can't think if anywhere In na this ever would gave been tolerated Mayan or incan culture wouldn't have don't know the rest

[-] atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 hours ago

Nor in medieval North and South America for what it’s worth.

[-] thebestaquaman@lemmy.world 15 points 7 hours ago

For what it's worth, medieval (and other historical) societies in general had pretty high respect for women in childbirth. In was commonly seen as among the more heavy and challenging things anyone could face.

[-] JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca 9 points 6 hours ago

Considering how many woman just fucking died right there, yea, I get it.

[-] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 hours ago

Part of that was the recognition that, even if she had committed the worst crimes, the potential infant would be innocent at birth (except of course for Original Sin) and deserved to try to live long enough to be baptized. So a pregnant murderess wouldn't be executed, for instance, until after the birth.

And it was normal for a midwife to be called to assist.

In non-criminal situations the mother's life was generally given precedence over the fetus's in a crisis. Partly because she could have more, partly because she was more likely to survive long-term if the intervention succeeded.

[-] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 32 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

Muricaaaaa, fuck yeeeaaahhh

Seriously, I don't see that shit happening in any developed nation. Hell, I don't see this happening in any nation, only in the US.

The USA is a shit hole, always has been

[-] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 84 points 11 hours ago

The bastards around her all joked and made fun of her, absolutely certain that there won't be any accountability for their cruelty.

Chances are they're right.

[-] Bougie_Birdie@piefed.blahaj.zone 32 points 9 hours ago

It's hard to come up with a more apt metaphor of the injustice of the justice system

But life, uh... finds a way

[-] nepenthe@lemmy.today 39 points 10 hours ago

Wow. Imagine what things would be like if we lived in a misogynistic society in which women were hated, despised, and punished.

[-] andros_rex@lemmy.world 12 points 6 hours ago

If anti abortion activists actually wanted anything other than publishing women, they’d be outraged by the state of maternal health care in prisons. They are okay with a woman miscarrying because she gets the shit beaten out of her in prison, they just don’t want anything to be her choice.

[-] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip 9 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

So am I reading this right? That her own lawyer (I get that it is likely a public defender) is disputing what the group said and claims that the room was cleared quickly because she just went into labor suddenly?

Also, this makes me curious about heroin, I would imagine it would delay labor, and being off it could return to a normal cycle? Before the god awful withdrawal kicks in.

I am not defending this situation, I am just curious as the article has a lot going on in it. In a decent society maybe she wouldn't have gotten to the point where a building is going after her for trespass, and she would get help with her addiction before becoming a mother. And not having to be in court at 9 months pregnant.

[-] Maeve@kbin.earth 4 points 6 hours ago

Did I miss where it said she was using heroin? I saw "selling."

[-] bold_atlas@lemmy.world 4 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

*Allegedly selling.

But come on there has to SOMETHING that makes it her fault that they left her handcuffed to a wall for 24 hours wall while in labor. Right?

[-] Maeve@kbin.earth 2 points 5 hours ago
[-] NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 hours ago

Fair. I made an assumption. I am still confused why her lawyer disagrees the the petitioner group which was made up of some public defenders. That's just bizarre.

[-] TachyonTele@piefed.social 14 points 10 hours ago
[-] corbindallas@fedinsfw.app 3 points 7 hours ago

Name and shame those responsible. Why do they get to be anonymous

[-] Pmfl@lemmy.pt 3 points 7 hours ago

How the hell is this even possible? 🤷‍♂️

[-] tomiant@piefed.social 0 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

I represent unique and organic internet engagement on this platform and I would just like to say that DAMN YOU MAMDANI FOR BETRAYING US LIKE THIS

this post was submitted on 17 May 2026
396 points (99.5% liked)

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