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Today, Department of Public Safety and Corrections Secretary James Le Blanc announced that the state is transferring two state prison operations to the Rapides Parish Sheriff and the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff, in addition to also selling the Avoyelles, Allen and Winn Correctional Centers.

Secretary LeBlanc said, "As we work to meet the state's budget challenges, we must find ways to not just reduce government, but to transform government services so we are more efficient and make better use of taxpayer dollars, while maintaining critical services for Louisianians. Today we are announcing the transfer of correctional operations for two state prisons to the Rapides Parish Sheriff and the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff, and the sale of the Avoyelles, Allen and Winn Correctional Centers."

Hal Turner, Executive Director of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association said, "Today's announcement is further evidence of the strong partnership Louisiana sheriffs have with the Department of Corrections. The conversion of Dabadie and Avoyelles is a win for the people of Louisiana because we will be reducing the costs to the taxpayer while still maintaining the same level of public safety Louisianians deserve. The legislation to sell the prisons will enable the Department of Corrections to continue its critical reentry efforts by generating money during these tough economic times."

DABADIE CORRECTIONAL CENTER

Secretary LeBlanc said, "We will convert J. Levy Dabadie Correctional Center in Pineville from a 580-bed minimum-security state prison facility to a local level facility operated by Rapides Parish Sheriff Charles Wagner, Jr. The conversion of Dabadie is projected to save the state $1.6 million in FY 11-12, and $4.1 million in FY 12-13. The current cost at Dabadie for each offender amounts to $48.94 per day. The per offender per diem for correctional services under the agreement with the Sheriff will be $28.00, or a 42.8 percent reduction in offender cost per day."

Rapides Parish Sheriff Charles F. Wagner, Jr. said, "Our intention is to save the jobs at Dabadie for our community and to continue to sustain Camp Beauregard. Working with the Louisiana Department of Corrections, we have developed a partnership that has proven to be beneficial to both of us."

AVOYELLES CORRECTIONAL CENTER

The Secretary continued, "We will also be converting operations at Avoyelles Correctional Center in Cottonport from a 1,564-bed medium security facility run by the state to one operated by Avoyelles Parish Sheriff Doug Anderson.

"To ensure that we continue the same level of public safety, Avoyelles will be operated following the same principles and guidelines as the state's two privately operated prisons - Allen Correctional Center and Winn Correctional Center. The conversion of Avoyelles is projected to result in a savings of $1.2 million in FY 11-12, and $6.2 million in FY 12-13."

Avoyelles Parish Sheriff Doug Anderson said, "Avoyelles Correctional Center represents an opportunity for this sheriff's office to provide a basis for continued employment of those correctional officers in Avoyelles Parish. We are interested in sustaining those jobs for the economic benefit of the community."

The current cost at Avoyelles for each offender amounts to $42.80 per day. The per offender per diem for correctional services under the agreement with the Sheriff will be $31.51, or a 26.4 percent reduction in offender cost per day.

"We have always been focused on providing public safety to Louisianians, and the transfers we are announcing today are another step toward keeping Louisianians safe while saving taxpayer funds," said Le Blanc. "As we transfer these two facilities, it's important to note that we are working with the Louisiana Sheriff's Association to determine if employees who opt to continue working at these facilities as employees of the local providers will be eligible to transfer into the Sheriffs' Association's retirement system and participate in the Sheriffs' Association's benefits package.

"The transition of these facilities to the sheriffs will be accomplished through cooperative endeavor agreements, and these conversions will not impact the Department of Corrections' primary and critical mission of providing for the public safety of Louisianians. We are committed to maintaining our high standard of public safety in Louisiana."

SALE OF AVOYELLES, ALLEN & WINN

About the sale of Allen, Winn and Avoyelles Correctional Centers, Secretary LeBlanc said, "This is one of the creative solutions we will use to generate revenue, cut state expenses and allow us to reinvest dollars in our state's public safety programs.

"It is common practice that most privately run prisons are built by the private correctional services provider. In fact, Allen and Winn Correctional Centers are already run by private companies, but the state owns the facilities. Selling the prisons will be an efficient use of resources while the public still receives the same level of services provided today. Make no mistake, any company that takes over these facilities must ensure our strong commitment to public safety is maintained.

"In order to effectuate the sales of Allen and Winn Correctional Centers, we will pursue legislation - which will be authored by Rep. Wooton - to create a new process that will allow the state to sell the facilities to only qualified buyers that can fulfill the requirements in current law as well as support the current contracts used for the operation of Allen and Winn Correctional Centers."

Representative Ernest Wooton said, "During these tough economic times we must maintain the public safety provided Louisianians and this legislation will allow the Department of Corrections to generate money to continue its efforts to reduce the recidivism rate and provide reentry services to offenders that are returning to our communities."

Among other requirements for the sale, the Secretary said the contracts will require the new owners to obtain and maintain accreditation from the American Correctional Association, to provide vocational and academic training for offenders, and have the level of experienced personnel necessary to carry out the terms of the contracts. The Department will continue to maintain authority to determine what DOC offenders are housed at all facilities.

The Allen and Winn facilities appraised for $33 million each. DOC conducted a request for information in early February, and has now received information on the proposed per diem for operating the facilities from a wide variety of responders, with per diems ranging from $31.50 to $45. Once the legislation for the sales is enacted, a request for proposal - or RFP - will be issued for the sale of the facilities. The highest qualified bidder will be awarded the facility and a 20-year contract. The request for proposals will advertise the purchase of each facility at the $33 million price, and ask how much per diem an entity will charge to operate the facility over a 20-year period.

For the sale of the Avoyelles facility, legislation will be authored by Representative Ernest Wooton to allow the sale of the facility directly to the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office, while ensuring the current level of security and services are maintained at the facility. This legislation will be part of Governor Jindal's legislative package. Avoyelles will be sold at a minimum of its appraised value, and the appraisal of the facility is expected to begin in a matter of days.

Secretary LeBlanc added, "As the operator of the facility, it makes sense for the Avoyelles Sheriff's Office to also own the facility. These common sense, creative solutions will streamline government, save taxpayer dollars and maintain our strong commitment to public safety."

Secretary LeBlanc noted that the transfers announced today are similar to previous efforts by DOC to create partnerships and work with local law enforcement to provide public safety to Louisianians while saving taxpayer dollars. Examples include:

An agreement with the Madison Parish Sheriff for the operation of the Louisiana Transitional Center for Women in Tallulah.

The conversion of the Steven Hoyle Rehabilitation Center into the sheriff-operated Louisiana Transitional Center for Women to provide reentry services to women. Steven Hoyle had operated mainly for DWIs and costs were in excess of $130 per offender per day and the facility discharged only an average of 35 of the 250 offenders per year. That conversion resulted in savings of $8 million.

The re-purposing of the Forcht Wade Correctional Center in Caddo Parish into a substance abuse facility. The old Forcht Wade programs were consolidated into Elayn Hunt Correctional Center and 500 substance abuse beds were established at Forcht Wade. That conversion is saving about $2 million in taxpayer funds.

In closing Secretary Le Blanc said, "Louisiana is not alone at this crossroads in providing sound criminal justice practices in times of fiscal crisis. States around the country are addressing similar concerns. This plan allows Louisiana to stay on the right road in continuing to address crime and improving public safety through continued focus on reentry efforts in our state and local prison system and our Probation and Parole Division."