Last Friday, Sheriff Jason Smith gave 5th District Congresswoman Julia Letlow and other local officials a tour of the Washington Parish Jail.
The Washington Parish Jail has the highest percentage of overcrowding of any jail in the state. Since taking office Smith has had a standing invitation for elected officials and journalists to tour the jail and see first-hand its overcrowded conditions. Smith it trying to have a new jail built for Washington Parish, and he has been seeking the support of public officials, as well as private citizens.
With the support of Sen. Beth Mizell and Rep. John Wyble, the Sheriff’s Office is moving toward finalizing the purchase of a 28-acre tract in the middle of the parish where a new jail can be built. The Sheriff said this relocation “would alleviate concerns about flooding, simplify security and evacuation measures due to our current proximity to downtown Franklinton, and give the us enough space to safely house the inmates for whom he is responsible.”
“The first part in this massive project was making everyone aware of the problem and agreeing that it should be addressed. We are now moving into the second phase, which is where the real work begins: securing land, identifying funding sources, and working with engineers and architects to solidify plans for the final phase, which is the physical construction of the facility,” Sheriff Smith said.
