A woman was forced to give birth while handcuffed to a bench inside a Brooklyn courtroom after being held in custody for more than 24 hours, according to a coalition of legal aid groups. Samantha Randazzo, 33, went into labour on Friday and delivered her child in open court without adequate medical care, privacy, or dignity, the groups said in a joint statement.
The statement claimed that Randazzo was surrounded by law enforcement, prosecutors, and courtroom staff, some of whom reportedly laughed and joked during the ordeal. 'She deserved care, compassion, safety, and dignity. Instead, she was subjected to trauma and humiliation in full public view,' the statement read. However, her lawyer, Wynton Sharpe, disputed the claims, saying court officers responded quickly and the presiding judge cleared the room immediately. 'It was a joyful and sad situation, given the circumstances,' Sharpe told The New York Times.
Al Baker, a spokesperson for the New York Office of Court Administration, said officers acted with 'swift professionalism to ensure the safety and sanctity of life'. He added, 'We are delighted both mother and baby are well.' Randazzo was arrested on Thursday on charges of drug possession and trespassing after police found a small amount of heroin and cocaine on her. She was not eligible for a desk appearance ticket because of an open warrant, and was taken to hospital after giving birth before being brought to the courthouse for arraignment.
The legal aid groups, including The Legal Aid Society and Brooklyn Defender Services, are demanding an immediate investigation into the agencies involved. They called the incident 'a profound moral failure' and urged a review of the treatment of all pregnant people in custody. 'A child entered the world in a courtroom, while their mother was in chains. New Yorkers should be outraged that this happened in our city in 2026,' the statement concluded.
