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Prision must assist inmate with abortion

October 17, 2005
By: Jonathan Levin
State Capital Bureau

The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for a Missouri inmate to recieve an abortion desite a state policy forbidding it. Jonathan Levin has more from the state Capitol.

The nation's highest court effectively struck down a Missouri Department of Corrections policy banning transportation or security for any inmate seeking an abortion.

The Missouri Attorney General appealed a lower federal courts ruling, the state violated the inmates rights under Row v. Wade, but the Supreme Court refused to hear the case

The judgement is a blow to the Corrections Department's policy. But, spokesman John Fougere, says the department will cooperate.

Actuality:
RunTime:
OutCue:
Contents: We're a law enforcement agency and we follow the law at all times. We've said all along that if the court were to compell us to transport the inmate to the procedure we would do so, and we fully intend to do that.

The inmate will pay for the abortion privately. But the state will be out about $350 for the cost of two guards and fuel for the procedure.