Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: October 11, 2004

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City Jail to be dedicated Wednesday

Walking into the new Shreveport City Jail is like walking into the future!

With state-of-the art everything, the new $8 million, 46,000 square foot facility will bring City of Shreveport corrections into a new era.

A dedication ceremony for the jail is set for 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday (Oct. 13) at 755 Hope Street, and tours will be offered to the public from noon to 5 p.m. that same day.

The new jail, funded by a bond issue approved by voters on July 21, 2001, replaces the current City Jail that has been used for more than 50 years. Those who visit Wednesday might find themselves walking away in amazement at all of the advancements the new jail offers over the outdated one.

It features modern systems, including electronically-controlled water conservation equipment, surveillance equipment that allows jailers to focus on particular scenes to get detailed information and video visitation that keeps visitors separated from inmates and prevents contraband from entering the jail.

It also features advanced kitchen equipment capable of cooking meals for a large jail population and a padded cell that cost $30,000 – an investment made to protect inmates who are wanting to hurt themselves while in custody.

A lot of the new technology in the jail deals with security issues that cannot be revealed. However, the new design allows jailers to monitor inmates better, and it will be safer for both the jailers and the inmates.

Those who tour the facility will get an inside look at what it will be like to be an inmate. One thing they will see is that all the linens, office furniture and uniforms purchased for the building was constructed by state inmates.

Another thing they will learn is that in addition to the traditional orange uniforms, there will also be yellow and red jumpsuits. The orange signifies members of the general population; the yellow signifies work release and jail trustees, and the red uniforms will be worn by violent or high-risk offenders.

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Here are some other interesting facts about the new jail:

• Closed circuit television cameras are positioned to monitor inmate movement, even focusing on items being removed from the inmate upon booking.

• All water features (sinks, toilets, etc.) are electronically controlled, eliminating wasted resources.

• Equipped with a "Passive Waiting Room" a secure area where arrested persons who are waiting to be bonded out in a short period of time can be housed without being placed in a cell.

• All office furniture was made by state inmates. Profits from the sale of the furniture are used by the Louisiana Department of Corrections to offset some of the costs associated with housing state inmates.

• The facility has the capability of housing 219 inmates and has been designed to house a maximum of 400 inmates without additional construction.

• Video visitation is provided in which inmate and visitor may communicate using a monitor and phone. Visiting sessions are automatically timed.

• Each dorm has an enclosed "outdoor air" recreational pod.

The primary concern for each design aspect of this facility was the ability to safely manage the inmate population, with minimum personnel and offer correctional personnel a safe working environment.

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View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews