Governor John Bel Edwards, Secretary Jimmy Le Blanc, and several state and local leaders turned dirt on the property where Louisiana's newest prison is being built. September 1, 2022.
After six years, construction is finally underway in St. Gabriel on the state’s newest women’s prison. Corrections Secretary Jimmy Le Blanc said the $149 million state-of-the-art facility will have 938-beds and be located on the west side of the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center facility.
“So, it’s not just about building a prison, it’s about building an opportunity that our female population will be able to take advantage of before they go home,” said Le Blanc.
Since the previous facility flooded in 2016, Le Blanc said the majority of female inmates have been housed at the former Jetson youth facility in Baton Rouge and the new prison should be completed in 28 months.
“By the time we open this up we will be able to house 95% of our female population in this facility and the other 5% will be in transitional work programs or treatment programs at the local level,” said Le Blanc.
The new facility will have space for multiple rehabilitative programs, for example, cosmetology, horticulture, welding, and computer programming. Le Blanc said it will also have an area dedicated to inmates who need mental health services.
“That’s designed for those that are struggling on the mental health side of things and then another section for our ladies that are having children while they’re in prison to allow them to bond with their children,” said Le Blanc.
He said the post-partum section of the women’s will be a first of its kind for Louisiana once construction is completed.
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