How To Get an Abortion While
Incarcerated in Virginia:

Which option is right for me?

Medication Abortion (the pills)

  • 1-day appointment, but on day 2 you will experience loss of pregnancy at jail/prison

  • This option is requires dedicated access to a toilet and hygiene products

  • This option requires a follow-up appointment

Procedure Abortion

  • 1-2 day appointments with no follow-up needed

  • This is not a surgery, no cutting is involved, the procedure is done vaginally

  • You can return to regular life at jail/prison after procedure

How do I pay for my abortion?

The clinic/hospital you are going to can connect you to financial assistance.

Planned Parenthood’s funding funding is called the Justice Fund. As an independent clinic, VCU can provide you National Abortion Hotline funding.

You can also be funded by Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project by calling +1 (888) 847-1593, extension 3. We are happy to speak to family and friends on your behalf.

Ask your PO
(prison officer) or CO (corrections officer) to
go to the infirmary.

Ask the medical provider for the jail/prison for an ultrasound.*

(*Ultrasound not needed for 1st trimester if you know your last menstrual period)

Once pregnancy is confirmed, ask the
medical provider for a referral for an abortion.

They should be able to treat this just like any other medical referral.

Clinics in Richmond, VA that work with local prisons and jails are: 

VCU Family Planning

804-628-8865, for client or jail/prison nurse

Planned Parenthood on 201 N Hamilton Street

What’s next?

The prison/jail will transport you along with any other folks getting medical care from your prison/jail that day.

Everyone comes in handcuffs. Some people may come in ankle cuffs. You can advocate to have the ankle cuffs removed for the procedure.

If traveling from farther away, or if you are traveling from a jail/prison for a multiple-day appointment, the jail/prison may coordinate with a local jail/prison for you to be transferred there for the duration of your abortion.

IF YOU ARE DENIED ACCESS TO ABORTION BY YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDER IN YOUR JAIL/PRISON:

You or an advocate on your behalf can seek legal aid at ACLU by reaching out via email at intake@acluva.org or using their intake form at https://intake.acluva.org/