Louisiana State Prison Commission - Women's Prison Subcommitte Minutes Committee Report Minutes Louisiana State Prison Commission Women's Prison Standards Subcommittee The Committee above entitled met on the morning of December 11, 1995 for the purpose of clarifying certain issues regarding the transportation arrangements of female prisoners, and compliance with certain federal guidelines regarding the conduct of female prisoners. . . . Transportation - Clarification of standards with respect to the transportation of female prisoners was requested by the Federal Deputies Union. At issue was the type of clothing permitted, the restraints recommended, and the conduct permitted female prisoners, whether state or federal. This committee will recommend the following guidelines for Commission approval: a. Clothing. The female prisoner, while traveling, may wear non-prison clothing, if permitted by the accompanying deputy. Recommended dress is business attire, such as skirt, blouse, and jacket, or attractive feminine dress attire, such a dresses, or blouse and slacks. High-heels are permitted, but only of the strap-on variety, so they cannot easily be removed and used as a weapon. Unusual dress, or dress which could attract undue attention, is not permitted. For instance, bikinis, leather hot pants, see-through blouses, tank tops, thigh-high lacing high-heeled boots are expressly forbidden. However, a leather mini-skirt, with a white blouse with see-through sleeves, and high black strap-on heels may be permitted, if done in taste. Failing appropriate attire provided by the female prisoner, the deputy shall always have a bright orange prisoner jumpsuit available as attire for the prisoner. b. Restraint. Female prisoners in transport must be kept in restraints at all time. Handcuffs must be placed on the women, behind their back, double-locked, and the links between the chain must be secured by a locking chain to the small of their back. Leg-irons must also be placed on and remain on the ankles of the prisoners, even when walking in public places, such as airport and bus terminals - for there is the greatest risk of escape. The Subcommittee further recommends the addition of a ball-gag, with padlock, and a black headbag for use at times deemed appropriate, by the accompanying deputy, but specifically during transport on common carriers, such as buses, and air-liners. The addition of the ball-gag and headbag almost completely assures no communication with parties which may aid in escape. Of course, sanitary practice demands that each woman prisoner be issued her own ball-gag, which can be kept buckled about her throat (even when not inserted and locked into her mouth) at all times during transport. c. Conduct. Recent Federal Morality laws, spearheaded by a Senator From Nebraska, and passed by the Senate and House by a wide margin without any substantive debate, explicitly forbids masturbation by prisoners of Federal, State and local authorities. Of course, all jail cells have already been fitted with lockdown devices on the bunks to restrain the arms, separate the knees, and provide a locking prod-gag for all prisoners serving sentences in State and Federal correctional facilities. However, the burden to assure that no masturbation occurs by females in transport falls on the transporting deputy. Further, it is acknowledged that the urge to masturbate will be strong, since they will be temporarily out of the restraints that they are currently required to sleep in. Therefore, this Subcommittee recommends that an additional restraint be issued. A 6-inch dowel with locking leather straps will separate the knees of all women prisoners sleeping in public accommodations. This, coupled with wrists locked behind their backs, ball-gags locked in place, and leg irons, should completely prevent manual masturbation, and also indirect masturbation caused by squeezing the knees together. Also, as a result of this legislation, the use of crotch-ropes is strongly discouraged, even though it may enhance the security of the prisoner. To cite an example, a college cheerleader, serving 4 year term in State Prison for check kiting, and taken on the college lecture circuit by a female deputy as an example to others. (All her public appearances were in her cheer-leader's outfit, with chains at her wrists and ankles.) When she was bed down for the night, in a black teddy, the deputy saw to it that she was tightly bound at the wrists and elbows, ball-gagged, tethered by the neck to the bed, and bound at both the knees and ankles. As an added precaution, she required the young prisoner to keep her black heels strapped onto her ankles, and added a crotch-rope from her tummy to the ropes that lashed her wrists. This completed, the deputy began to shower, but competed her shower only to find that the young woman was writhing in her bondage and groaning in pleasure, as the crotch-rope permitted her the opportunity for genital stimulation! The deputy was only narrowly able to avert allowing the prisoner to reach orgasm by quickly cutting the crotch- rope with a pair of scissors, then untying her legs, and spreading them quickly to either bedpost, frustrating any further attempts at self-gratification. The deputy was reprimanded for the breach of permissible conduct by a prisoner under her care. Therefore, we believe that the locking knee-separator is the best method of keeping female prisoners from self- stimulation, when used with standard restrains including handcuffs, leg-irons, and a locking ball-gag. Summary We hope that the work of this Subcommittee will be helpful to law enforcement adminstrators who are required to transport female prisoners. This is a rapidly changing area, and it is recommended that all administrators keep alert for new bulletins and Federally mandated requirements to assure that they are in compliance with current guidelines for female prisoner restraint and conduct.