A room-full of middle-aged white male politicians in Scranton, the seat of Lackawanna County, in far Northeastern Pennsylvania, decided that it was swell that an unattended woman was forced to give birth in her county jail cell. They thought it was terrific that the infant was dropped on the concrete floor. They admired that the newborn had to be resuscitated from near death. The room-full of middle-aged white male politicians headed by Prison Board Chairman A.J. Munchak and warden Janine Donate thought that the prison staff acted "fantastically" and did "a great job." After all, the baby didn't actually die. It's unknown how badly her brain may have been damaged. And it was only a black brat. What's all the fuss about? A young woman, 22 year-old Shakira Staten, was in the Scranton jail on a federal drug charge. She went into labor alone in her jail cell. She begged for help. For hours, she pleaded to be taken to the hospital. The "Great Job" Lackawanna Jail staff didn't provide help. The "Great Job" staff didn't take the young woman to the hospital. After hours of labor, an infant daughter was finally delivered. At that point, it was about three in the morning. Some guard seems to have wondered by and noticed the infant. The "Great Job" staff member didn't think that a baby belonged in the cell. Maybe it was trying to escape! The baby seems to have been unconscious, deprived of oxygen and near death, apparently cyanotic and perhaps brain damaged from the lack of air. The guard or some other member of the "Great Job" jail staff who was pulled away from napping, apparently dropped the newborn on the concrete floor. No thanks to the "Great Job" staff, the baby survived and was eventually resuscitated. Generally, dribbling a newborn baby around on concrete is not considered such a "great job!" Only long after the birth, were the mother and daughter finally taken to the hospital. The hospital is only a few blocks away for the jail. Middle-aged white politician, A.J. Munchak, covered his ass by declaring that the jail staff had acted "properly." He stressed that nobody escaped (escaped?!) and that the "public" had not been endangered (unless, of course, the baby and her mother are part of the "public." Commissioner A.J. Munchak is such a scholar and humanitarian that he refused to release information about the case. He said that federal privacy laws kept the information private. He confessed that he "had information" about the medical situation, but he couldn't share it. Obviously Commissioner Munchak doesn't understand, or, more likely, hasn't even bothered to read the law. Federal law, 42 USC 1320d-2, some times called "HIP(P)AA" actually says that not even the middle-aged white male commissioner is allowed to have the patient's information without her consent. How'd he get it? Did he break the law or just endanger an infant and her mother? We wonder if old fashion greed may not have played a big part in this incident. Doctor Edward Zaloga is the county's chief medical director. He's in charge of the well-being of county prisoners among other things. As it happens, the same Doctor Zaloga is also co-owner of Correctional Care, Inc., the for-profit corporation which is supposed to provide medical care and treatment to prisoners including Ms Staten and her baby. Could it be that there was an effort to scrimp on a few bucks by endangering mother and child? Maternity care in a hospital with delivery room, anesthetic and other proper care would likely cost the corporation and Dr. Zaloga thousands of dollars. Forcing the mother to give birth alone in the jail cell saved all that. In America money is king! People, especially women and more especially black women, hardly matter at all. For the child, being a prisoner may prove harmful to her future. It certainly doesn't bode well for her future. As for the middle-aged white prison officials, we strongly urge that A.J. Munchak not be re-elected. He belongs on the jerk farm. Warden Janine Donate and the rest of the prison officials should be replaced. And, Doctor Edward Zaloga and his moneymaking Correctional Care, Inc., should be carefully investigated. Rebecca's Bargain Antiques Collectible Vintage Photos Fine Prints - Old Maps Sheet Music - Old Books Elegant Antiques and Collectibles "To enter life by way of the vagina is as good a way as any," Henry Miller, circa 1937 You are welcome to use or re-publish any of our material. Please give www.prisoners.com credit as the source. Return to the New and Interesting Items Menu Return to the Public Enemies Menu Return to the Glimpse of Prison Life Menu Return to the Prison Medial Care Menu Return to the Main Menu. Go to our site Search Feature. Send us Your Comments, Questions or Input.