$3 million to outfox Caddo inmates who are outfoxing old locks

The proposed 2018 Caddo Parish budget includes an eye-popping item — $3 million to replace all locks in the parish jail.

Sheriff Steve Prator has told parish commissioners that the expenditure for the Caddo Correctional Center is needed because inmates can now, sometimes, let themselves out of their own cells.

"It's gotten to be common knowledge among the incarcerated how to open the cell doors," Prator said in an email. "We have had in the recent past more and more incidents where prisoners are letting themselves out and taking retribution on each other."

Cindy Chadwick, the sheriff's spokeswoman, said some inmates have learned how to "defeat" the locks due to age and wear.

Prator brought the issue to the commission's attention due to the "serious security issue" for both security deputies and inmates but did not ask for any money, Chadwick said.

Commissioners are reviewing the proposed 2018 budget, which they are expected to approve with some changes in December. Commissioners who responded to Times' inquiries said they supported allocating the money, saying that public safety is a priority and that the parish has a statutory obligation to maintain a parish jail.

"Maintaining Caddo Correctional Center is a core responsibility of the Caddo Parish Commission," said Commissioner John Atkins. "All capital equipment needs to be replaced after decades of daily use, even jail door locks."

Chadwick said the correctional center's 608 pneumatically actuated locks were installed when the facility was built. The jail opened in 1995. Pneumatic locks use air pressure, similar to the tubes that link drive-through bank customers to a teller.

Parish spokeswoman Krystle Grindley said locks would have to be custom made for the jail. She also said the money would pay for more than just the locks.

"The $3 million estimate includes not only the lock creation and purchase, but also things such as architectural and engineering costs and installation," Grindley said. 

Commissioner Doug Dominick ssaid the funds would allow an upgrade to high-security locks.

"No one likes to spend $3 million of the taxpayers funds. However, the Caddo Correctional Center is owned by the Caddo Parish Commission," Dominick said. "This is something that is being recommended not only by the Caddo Parish Sheriff but also the Caddo Parish Facilities and Maintenance Department."

Commissioner Steven Jackson said he supported the budget item "at the moment," though he also said he's asked for additional information.

"I would have liked to have seen the (Louisiana) Department of Corrections help with the cost, since some of the prisoners are state," Jackson said in an email. "But overall it's a safety matter, and it's just the cost of maintaining the facility."

Ken Pastorick, spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Corrections, said the state pays sheriff's offices, including Caddo's, a day rate of $24.39 to house DOC offenders who are housed in parish jails.

"In fiscal year 2016-2017, the state paid Caddo Parish more than $4.2 million to house DOC offenders, transitional work program offenders and parole holds," Pastorick said. "Of that, $3.3 million was paid to house offenders in the Caddo Correctional Center."

The parish itself spent more than $630,000 last year on salaries for staff who maintain the correctional center, and close to $18,000 for overtime for 16 of 17 facility staff who worked a total 690 extra hours, according to a Times' analysis of parish salary and overtime data.

Commissioner Mike Middleton said the issue of funding for the locks should have been placed immediately in the capital budget need, "with the highest priority."

"This is being deemed by some that this is being required by Sheriff Prator, and that this is a favor to him. This is so wrong," Middleton said. "Transfer the money from oil and gas reserves and be done with it."

Chadwick echoed Middleton's sentiments.

"This is not funding requested by or for the Sheriff's Office. This is a need made known by the sheriff in a building and correctional facility which is statutorily the responsibility of the Commission," she said.