(By Emilee Calametti/The Center Square) — Many correctional facilities and local jails in Louisiana reportedly lack sufficient procedures to comply with state laws when it comes to the treatment of incarcerated women, especially those who are pregnant.

There were 3,519 incarcerated women in the state as of July last year.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor authored a report to assess the care of females in state correctional facilities and local jails. The audit found significant issues with how three facilities restrained pregnant women.

According to the independent auditor, at least three facilities used leg irons on pregnant and birthing women, which state law prohibits. Over 50% were not adhering to the limitation of restraints on pregnant women fully. Leg irons are physical restraints used in these facilities to limit leg movement. Many local incarceration centers, 75%, also failed to properly document the use of restraints on women carrying babies or give them their rights in writing related to the use of restraints.

Two facilities only provided pregnant women with OB care if an issue arose instead of on a routine basis. The LLA surveyed 44 women who had been pregnant while incarcerated. Of those women, 54% were not offered OB access.

Local jails throughout the state house 87.2% of the incarcerated women in Louisiana. None of these had adequate written procedures that included all state requirements for female incarceration.

“Incarcerated men in local jails receive more developmental opportunities than women,” said the independent auditor.

Also less accessible to incarcerated women are educational and vocational programming, recreational time and visitation during incarceration. The U.S. Department of Justice said these factors can limit reentry.

The LLA surveyed 38 local jails, and 22 said incarcerated women aren’t always given the same programming as male offenders, including GED or vocational classes.

Data shows that from 1980 to 2019, the number of incarcerated females has increased by over 700%. In Louisiana, 47 parishes have local jails for both pre-trial women and non-felony convictions.

Louisiana is among the states that have passed laws requiring specific things correctional facilities must provide for incarcerated women and incarcerated women who are pregnant.

In the DOC’s response, the agency said the issue lies in local jails, not state correctional facilities.