Criminalization
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, pregnancy-related arrests have made headlines. Yet even before the Dobbs decision, thousands of people have been arrested — and even imprisoned — for the crime of making their own decisions about their pregnancy, including in states where abortion remains legal.
Abortion bans have far-reaching consequences that go well beyond restricting access to care. Criminalizing abortion intensifies the surveillance and policing of pregnant people. When abortion is criminalized, any pregnancy outcome — miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, or even live birth — can become grounds for investigation.
No one should be forced to stay pregnant if they can’t or don’t want to be. No one should be arrested for having a miscarriage or an abortion, or for helping someone they love get the care they need.
Our legal and healthcare systems are deeply shaped by racism and inequality. Black and brown people, immigrants, and other marginalized communities are disproportionately targeted for criminalization and often denied quality healthcare.
Most disturbing of all, those targeted for pregnancy-related criminalization are often reported by someone they know — a partner, friend, or even a medical provider. Laws like Texas’s “abortion bounty” turn neighbors into informants, fueling a culture of surveillance and suspicion. This climate of fear and isolation hurts the very people who need support the most.
When someone decides to have an abortion, they should be able to rely on the help and support of friends and family without the constant fear of criminal prosecution.
Anti-abortion extremists won’t stop at banning abortion in Texas. Their goal is to control people through fear, surveillance, and punishment. But we won’t back down. We’re fighting for a future where abortion care is rooted in love, support, and compassion — not fear and criminalization.