News Summary
The Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women opened on August 28, 2025, as the first new state prison in Louisiana in over three decades. Constructed at a cost of $160 million, the 300,000 square-foot facility can house up to 958 women and includes various amenities aimed at rehabilitation. The prison addresses past flooding issues and signifies a modernization effort in Louisiana’s correctional system, promising new opportunities for education and support for incarcerated women.
Batton Rouge, Louisiana – The Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women officially opened on August 28, 2025, marking a significant milestone as the first new state prison in Louisiana in over 35 years. Built at a cost of $160 million, the facility spans approximately 300,000 square feet and is designed to house up to 958 incarcerated women.
The new facility consists of 15 buildings that include dormitories, a gymnasium, a medical building, a kitchen, a postpartum wing, and an education center. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections emphasized that the prison is designed to withstand a 500-year flood, a crucial consideration following the challenges associated with the state’s past flooding events.
The opening ceremony featured comments from state officials, highlighting the modernization of correctional facilities across Louisiana. Among the key participants were Governor Jeff Landry and Warden Kristen Thomas. The governor referred to this opening as a significant step towards restructuring the prison system, aimed at improving both safety and rehabilitation opportunities for women.
In terms of rehabilitation, the prison offers a variety of career and technical education programs that include training in furniture restoration, cosmetology, medical laboratory assisting, horticulture, welding, and heavy equipment operation. Additionally, incarcerated women have the chance to earn a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministry through the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, providing a path for personal and academic growth.
The facility is set to begin accepting inmates who are currently housed at the Jetson Center for Youth in Baker, which previously accommodated approximately half of the original women’s prison population. The relocation of these inmates comes after a long period in which conditions at the previous facility deteriorated due to flood damage sustained during the 2016 flooding disaster. This disaster led to the displacement of over 1,000 female inmates.
The newly opened prison employs 261 state staff members, including 58 dedicated to medical and mental health services. These personnel play a crucial role in providing various support services, such as mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and trauma-informed care, aimed at breaking the cycles of incarceration that many women face.
Former Governor John Bel Edwards previously noted the significant delays in the rebuilding process, attributing them to slow recovery efforts following the 2016 flood. After assessing the viability of the previous site, state officials decided it was more cost-effective to construct a new facility rather than renovate the existing one. Construction for the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women finally commenced in 2022, and funding from FEMA contributed at least $44 million to the project’s overall cost.
The opening of the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women represents not only a structural change but also a philosophical shift towards more supportive and rehabilitative correctional practices in the state. As Louisiana continues to address its criminal justice system challenges, this new facility underscores a commitment to offering incarcerated women more comprehensive support and opportunities for personal growth.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- The Advocate: Louisiana Women’s Prison Open Flood
- Wikipedia: Louisiana Prison System
- WAFB: Inside Look at New Women’s Prison Facility
- Google Search: Louisiana women’s prison 2025
- Business Report: New Women’s Correctional Institute
- Google Scholar: Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women
- WBRZ: New Women’s Prison Adjacent to Elayn Hunt Correction Center
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Correctional Institution
- Post South: News Local Gov Jeff Landry Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women
- Google News: Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women
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