Oklahoma had the second-highest number of pregnancy-related prosecutions nationwide in the year after Roe. v. Wade was overturned, according to a new study by the advocacy organization Pregnancy Justice.
From June 24, 2022, to June 23, 2023, there were at least 210 pregnancy-related prosecutions in the U.S. This is the highest number of these prosecutions documented in a single year. Oklahoma trailed Alabama, at 68 prosecutions.
The report notes its total might represent an undercount, as the research team is still uncovering cases from this period. It also notes the team had more resources to uncover cases, meaning they could identify more cases than in past years.
A majority of these defendants nationwide are low-income, and their charges commonly allege a form of child abuse, neglect or endangerment. Prosecutors overwhelmingly charged pregnant people with offenses that did not require proof the pregnant person harmed a fetus or infant.
Janet Levit, a University of Tulsa law professor, teaches a reproductive rights practicum alongside the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center.
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