Private Prisons In The State Of Louisiana
If you are looking for information about the private prisons in the state of Louisiana then you are on the right way, here you find all the information.
There have been three private prisons in the state of Louisiana, including Allen Correctional Center, Winn Correctional Centre, and Richwood Correctional Center. All of these prisons are medium-security.
To offer correctional services, the state of Louisiana contracts with private organizations. Additionally, the contracts force the corporations to keep a specific level of occupancy, which some have referred to as a lockup quota.
However, the state's contract with GEO Group to administer the Allen Correctional Centre expired in 2020, while the contract with LaSalle Corrections to operate the Winn Correctional Centre has yet to be extended.
There are several reasons why the state of Louisiana has opted to discontinue its usage of private prisons, including concerns regarding safety and security, the cost of operating private prisons, public opinion, the quality of treatment offered to inmates, etc.
Lastly, the state of Louisiana may choose to extend its contract with LaSalle Corrections to run the Winn Correctional Centre. It is possible, though, that the state will elect to close all private jails. But it is still too early to predict anything, as private prisons in Louisiana have an unclear future.
Reason Behind Louisiana's Lack Of Private Prisons
Public Safety And Security
In 2016, there was a riot at the Winn Correctional Center that resulted in the death of one inmate and the injury of several others. This incident, along with other high-profile incidents at private prisons in Louisiana, has raised concerns about the safety and security of these facilities.
Quality Of Care
There have been concerns about the quality of care provided to inmates at private prisons in Louisiana. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice found that the Allen Correctional Center violated several federal standards for the treatment of inmates.
Cost Of Operating Prison
A 2017 Vera Institute of Justice study found that private prisons in Louisiana were more expensive than government-run prisons. Additionally, the study found that the state could save an estimated $20 million per year by closing the two private prisons and operating them itself.
Public Opinion
There is growing public opposition to private prisons in Louisiana. A 2018 poll found that 63% of Louisianans opposed the use of private prisons.
List Of Private Prisons In The State Of Louisiana
Winn Correctional Center
The Winn Correctional Centre, situated in Winnfield, Louisiana, is a medium-security prison. It was opened in 1990 and is operated on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Correction. It is run by LaSalle Corrections and can house 1,538 prisoners.
Moreover, the Winn Correctional Centre was the country's first privately administered medium-security prison. Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) developed it and ran the facility until 2015. Then LaSalle Corrections took over the operation of the jail in 2015.
The Winn Correctional Centre has been the source of some debate. A disturbance in the jail occurred in 2016, resulting in the death of one inmate and the injury of numerous others. This episode, along with previous high-profile occurrences in Louisiana's private prisons, has prompted questions about the facilities' safety and security.
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections stated in 2017 that it would not renew CCA's contract to run the Winn Correctional Centre. The agreement was set to end in 2020.
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Allen Correctional Center
Louisiana's Allen Correctional Centre is a medium-security prison. It was built in 1990 and is operated on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections by the GEO Group. The Allen Correctional Center's history may be separated into two parts: before privatization and after.
The Louisiana Department of Corrections originally constructed the Allen Correctional Centre. It first accommodated male offenders when it opened in December 1990. The jail began holding female convicts in 1999.
The Allen Correctional Centre was a source of contention during this time period. A riot broke out in the jail in 1994, resulting in the death of one inmate and the injury of numerous others. The Louisiana Department of Corrections was sued in 1999, saying that the jail was overcrowded and that inmates were not receiving proper medical treatment.
The Louisiana Department of Corrections gave the GEO Group a contract to administer the Allen Correctional Centre in 2002. The deal was for five years with the option to renew for another five years.
There have been a number of incidents at the Allen Correctional Centre since it was privatized. A riot broke out in the jail in 2008, resulting in the injuries of numerous inmates. In 2011, the GEO Group was sued, claiming that the prison was understaffed and that inmates were not receiving proper medical treatment.
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections stated in 2020 that it would not renew its contract with the GEO Group to run the Allen Correctional Centre. The agreement was set to end in 2021.
The Allen Correctional Center's future is questionable. The state of Louisiana has yet to decide whether to shut down the jail or hire another private corporation to run it.
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Richwood Correctional Center
Richwood Correctional Center is a private prison in the state of Louisiana. The facility is operated and managed by Lassalle Operations. Department of Homeland Security contracted this private company in order to manage the facility.
The Richwood Correctional Center can accommodate 1129 inmates. The facility was opened in 1990 after being completed in 1989. It was first run by the Louisiana Department of Corrections until being privatized in 2001.
The Richwood Correctional Centre is a low-profile jail with no noteworthy occurrences. However, there have been reports of prisoner maltreatment. In 2017, a lawsuit was filed against LaSalle Corrections, alleging that the firm violated the Eighth Amendment by using excessive force on detainees.
The Richwood Correctional Centre is now Louisiana's sole private jail that accommodates only male convicts. The Winn Correctional Centre, Louisiana's other private prison, houses both male and female convicts.
The Richwood Correctional Center's future is unknown. The state of Louisiana has yet to indicate whether or not it will extend its contract with LaSalle Corrections when it expires in 2025.