Resolution; encouraging state legislation relating to providing breast pumps for incarcerated women.
The resolution calls for correctional facilities to create systems that enable breastfeeding, including the provision of breast pumps and lactation education. It mandates that the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, in collaboration with the State Department of Health, ensure proper storage and delivery of breast milk from incarcerated postpartum women to their infants. The resolution underlines the role of breast milk in providing essential nutrients for infants' growth and development, while also acknowledging the emotional benefits of breastfeeding, such as bonding between mother and child.
Senate Resolution 5 (SR5) encourages the state of Oklahoma to legislate the provision of breast pumps for incarcerated women who are pregnant or have recently given birth. The resolution highlights the particularly high rate of female incarceration in Oklahoma and emphasizes the importance of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. SR5 seeks to advocate for the health and wellbeing of these women and their children by promoting policies that facilitate breastfeeding in correctional facilities, where security concerns may impede such practices.
Although SR5 itself is a resolution encouraging legislative changes, potential points of contention may arise concerning the feasibility of implementing breastfeeding policies in correctional settings. Some might argue about the security implications and whether the accommodation of breastfeeding practices could complicate procedures in correctional facilities. There are also broader discussions regarding inmate rights and healthcare access that could influence the acceptance of such legislative measures. Supporters of the resolution may contend that the health benefits for both mothers and infants far outweigh these concerns, advocating for humane treatment of incarcerated individuals.