Louisiana Opens $160M Women’s Prison in St. Gabriel

The Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW), a new $160 million, 300,000-square-foot prison facility in St. Gabriel, has officially opened after three years of construction. Designed to withstand a 500-year flood, the multi-level security prison replaces the previous facility devastated by the 2016 flood, which forced the relocation of over 1,000 incarcerated women. Governor Jeff Landry and other officials highlighted the facility's modern technology and security systems aimed at enhancing safety for inmates, staff, and the surrounding community. The prison includes 15 buildings featuring a gymnasium, medical and mental health centers, postpartum wing, educational and career training centers, and dormitories, with a capacity for 958 inmates. Warden Kristen Thomas emphasized the facility's focus on rehabilitation, providing programs for education, counseling, and reentry to prepare women for success after incarceration. The state anticipates cost savings from consolidating inmate housing and increased space for juvenile inmates, marking a significant improvement in the care and treatment of incarcerated women in Louisiana.