Record Surge in Pregnancy-Related Prosecutions Post-Dobbs Ruling

New report reveals over 210 criminal cases against pregnant individuals in the first year after Roe v. Wade was overturned, highlighting the rise of fetal personhood laws.

A new report by Pregnancy Justice documents 210 criminal cases related to pregnancy in the year following the Dobbs decision, the highest annual number recorded.
The majority of these cases involved allegations of substance use during pregnancy, often leading to charges of child endangerment or neglect.
22 cases specifically involved prosecutions for miscarriages, stillbirths, or the death of babies born prematurely.
Alabama, Oklahoma, and South Carolina, states with strong fetal personhood laws, accounted for the majority of these prosecutions.
Medical settings played a significant role in these prosecutions, with over half of the cases initiated based on evidence collected by healthcare providers.