Tagged News

• Revealing audit describes how Louisiana's prisons responded to pandemic

  June 28, 2021 10:12 AM

  BATON ROUGE - According to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's office, a recent analysis of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections revealed that while the DOC performed well in relation to certain areas of pandemic-safety, administrative challenges and a failure to collect much-needed COVID-related information proved to be problematic.... more »

• Concern for inmate safety grows following recent death of La prisoner

  March 31, 2020 9:18 AM

  ALLEN PARISH - Concerns related to the health and safety of inmates continue to grow following the coronavirus-related death of an Oakdale inmate. KATC reports that on Monday, the Bureau of Federal Prisons issued a statement regarding at least ten cases within the facility in Allen Parish and on... more »

• Two DOC employees test positive for coronavirus

  March 26, 2020 6:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Two Louisiana Department of Corrections employees have tested positive for Coronavirus. They are the first confirmed cases in the DOC. They did not work at the same prisons. In a statement, the LDOC reports both employees have limited contact with inmates and other staff. They... more »

• Ascension Parish jail releasing some inmates, limiting arrests due to coronavirus concerns

  March 17, 2020 12:45 PM

  ASCENSION PARISH - Ascension Parish is taking extraordinary steps to reduce the jail population. Currently, the DA and judges are working to release some non-violent offenders on a case-by-case basis. Sheriff Bobby Webre says his deputies will not bring people to jail for most misdemeanor arrests. Instead, they will... more »

• ACLU of La demands expedited parole hearings for elderly patients due to coronavirus scare

  March 12, 2020 12:03 PM

  NEW ORLEANS – In the wake of Louisiana’s first confirmed cases of coronavirus, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Louisiana called for expedited parole hearings for elderly people in state prisons and the release of all people jailed awaiting charges and trial who are not considered a risk to... more »

• Federal report reveals female inmates receive harsher punishments than male inmates

  February 26, 2020 10:31 AM

  A federal report reveals that female inmates, when compared to their incarcerated male counterparts, often receive disproportionately harsh punishments for minor infractions of prison rules. According to National Public Radio (NPR) , the United States Commission on Civil Rights published a report on these findings after a 12-month investigation... more »

• Prison guard arrested for having sex with inmate, bringing drugs into jail

  December 20, 2017 9:15 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- A female guard at the Orleans Justice Center was arrested for having sexual contact with an inmate and bringing illegal drugs into the jail, according to authorities. WWL-TV reports that Oshen Heilman, 25, was arrested at the jail Tuesday when she arrived for work. Heilman was... more »

• Audit finds Louisiana prisons can't track inmates accurately

  November 13, 2017 9:36 AM

  BATON ROUGE- According to a report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, the Louisiana Department of Corrections is not properly tracking inmate locations and release dates. WWL-TV reports that part of the issues is that the department of corrections uses "antiquated" data management software. The report by the Louisiana... more »

• Inmates receive high school diplomas while serving time

  October 27, 2017 12:00 PM

  LIVINGSTON PARISH- Ten Livingston Parish Detention Center inmates recently obtained their high school diplomas while serving their sentences. The class is offered through the partnership the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office has with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections Education Department. "I am so proud that you... more »

• Second Angola employee arrested for drug smuggling in less than a month

  May 27, 2017 4:13 PM

  BATON ROUGE - An employee at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola was arrested after she attempted to smuggle drugs and other contraband into the prison. According to the Louisiana Department of Corrections, investigators arrested 26-year-old Kaelyn Franklin, of Baton Rouge, after drugs were found on her person during... more »

• WBR work release inmate captured after escape, car chase

  February 27, 2017 11:09 AM

  WEST BATON ROUGE – Authorities say a West Baton Rouge work release inmate is back in custody after an escape and car chase overnight. According to the sheriff's office, Rickey Lake, 34, went missing after 10:30 p.m. on Sunday. Lake did not appear for the 12:30 a.m. headcount and... more »

• Elayn Hunt Correctional cadet booked with battery after punching inmate

  February 20, 2017 5:31 PM

  BATON ROUGE – An Elayn Hunt Correctional Center cadet has been booked on a battery charge after punching an inmate while on duty. St. Gabriel Police detectives booked 23-year-old Eric Lands with simple battery. After learning of the incident, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections notified... more »

• 12 arrests made in murder of Tangipahoa inmate

  February 7, 2017 7:49 PM

  HAMMOND- Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards announced multiple arrests were made in connection to the death of a Tangipahoa Parish Jail inmate that occurred on Jan. 30. According to Edwards, 40-year-old Tommy Joe Smith of Independence was killed less than 12 hours after being booked into the jail on... more »

• Former State Penitentiary corrections cadet booked for sexual misconduct with inmate

  December 30, 2016 7:53 PM

  WEST FELICIANA – West Feliciana Parish Sheriff's detectives booked a former Louisiana State Penitentiary Corrections Cadet for sexual misconduct with an inmate. The former cadet, 20-year-old Pernell J. Glover, Jr., was booked with malfeasance in office and sexual misconduct prohibited with persons in the custody and supervision of the... more »

• Five West Feliciana inmates get baptized at detention center

  December 19, 2016 11:02 AM

  WEST FELICIANA – Five inmates of the West Feliciana Parish Detention Center were baptized last week. Detention Center Chaplain Pastor Dennis Lawrence, who has been preaching at the detention center every week for the past six years, performed the baptisms. Inmates, Jeremiah Elliot, Haneif Smith, William Roach, Jr.... more »

• Judge to decide if death-row inmates need air conditioning

  May 20, 2016 6:00 PM

  BATON ROUGE - As summer approaches in Louisiana, prison officials insist that ice, fans and cold showers are enough to protect death-row inmates from dangerous heat and humidity. If not, a federal judge may insist on air conditioning for inmates awaiting execution at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. U.S. District... more »

• WBR jail leads in work release inmate escapes with 22 in 2 years

  April 18, 2016 1:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A new audit has found that the state's work release program for prisoners has had more than 250 escapes in the past two years alone. The legislative auditor found that the program does have its benefits, including saving money on inmate housing and decreasing the number... more »

• Inmates celebrate the holidays with their kids Play Video

  December 15, 2015 12:05 PM

  ST. FRANCISVILLE - People behind bars in West Feliciana Parish received some early Christmas cheer Tuesday. Montreal Floyd is a father of six, but on Tuesday he got to see two of his children. This will be the first Christmas without his kids. "When you're use to being around them,... more »

• Angola inmates sending off toys for Christmas Play Video

  December 9, 2015 5:44 PM

  ANGOLA - A handful of inmates at Angola State Prison are sent off wooden toys and repaired bicycles to the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Office Wednesday. It's part of the Angola Toy Workshop's program to give to children in need for Christmas. Inmates craft 6,000 wooden toys and repair about... more »

• Searchers actively following tips for missing inmate

  November 6, 2015 1:23 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - Authorities said they're actively following up on tips in the search for a work release inmate who left his job site earlier this week in Livingston Parish. A spokesperson for the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office said they and members of the Walker Police Department searched an... more »

• St. Helena Parish upgrades jail Play Video

  September 16, 2015 6:22 PM

  GREENSBURG - St. Helena Parish is wrapping up upgrades to the parish jail this week. Money from a capital outlay grant was used to build a prisoner entry sally port which encloses inmates while they're being transported from the vehicle to the jail. St. Helena officials told News 2... more »

• Two Angola cellmates captured after escaping

  September 22, 2013 4:23 PM

  ANGOLA - Two Angola cellmates have been captured after attempting a daring plan to escape from jail. While in the prison yard this morning, the two inmates broke through the bottom of one gate and climbed over another before taking off into a wooded area. The Angola Chase... more »

• Escaped inmates are now in custody

  September 22, 2013 11:21 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Two inmates are on the run after escaping from Angola State Prison. State police and the West Feliciana Sheriff's Office are currently in hot pursuit. According to the a prison official, the police have them surrounded. Both of the inmates are serving life sentences, one... more »