State Department of Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc told legislators Tuesday that he is aware selling Avoyelles Correctional Center and closing two other prisons will impact people and families.
The proposals in the governor’s $25.5 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1 would eliminate hundreds of jobs.
“Sometimes you have to do things that are necessary,” LeBlanc told the House Committee on Appropriations.
In addition to selling Avoyelles, prisons in Pineville and Keithville would close.
What the legislators and newspapers are not stating to the public is that if state correctional employees go to work at Angola -as one legislator stated employees can do- is that Angola will only accept a worker as a tranfer up to a master- sergeant position. What about Captains, Wardens, etc…? They will have to take two or more drops in position and pay to work there. Plus, do not forget, if Avoyelles Correctional center is privatized, that the level of safety in the prison will drop. Private prison workers are not as trained and paid for that level of security as state employees are. We have three schools in the area near Avoyelles Correctional Center: Cottonport Elementary, Plaucheville Elementary, and St. Joseph Elementary through High School. With decreased security the children of our community are at an increased danger as well. Let’s talk economics. With less workers at the prison, there will not be as many people spending money at local stores, gas stations, and restaurants. We loose all the way around. Keep our familys safe, our schools safe, and money flowing through our parish–Our Prisons are not for sale!!!