Forcht Wade Correctional Center to close this summer

CADDO PARISH, LA (KSLA) - A Louisiana corrections center in south Caddo Parish is expected to close this summer, putting 139 people out of work.

Forcht Wade Correctional Center is one of three prison facilities in Louisiana feeling the pinch of state budget cuts. The Department of Corrections will also close the Dabadie Correctional Center in Pineville and privatize the Avoyelles Correctional Center in Cottonport (You can read more on statewide budget cuts here).

In 2010, Forcht Wade changed from a full corrections facility to a 500-bed substance abuse treatment center for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. The Department says having Forcht Wade as a stand-alone treatment center isn't cost effective.

The facility is set to close July 1.

The program will move to the David Wade Correctional Center in Homer.

The two facilities will start shuffling prisoners around soon to make room for the substance abuse center at David Wade.

The Department of Corrections estimates it will save just over $4M for the 2013 fiscal year and $8.6M for 2014.

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