Security rules under review after arrests

Terrebonne Parish Juvenile Detention Center Director Jason Hutchinson responded last week to the rash of arrests made on male correctional officers for sexual involvement with female inmates at the facility.

Since late April, six male correctional officers have been arrested on allegations of exchanging sex for privileges or observing sexual relations between female inmates. One female correctional officer was arrested for obstructing justice.

“We’ve taken steps on security matters,” Hutchinson said.

The director could not discuss the incidents because juveniles are involved in the investigation by detectives from the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, which is not affiliated with the juvenile detention center.

Hutchinson also could not talk about the kinds of steps being taken to improve security, but he said, “The intention is to split the building, minimize exposure of males and females to the opposite sex.”

As more light is shed on the incidents and where they occurred in the facility, adjustments will be made, he said.

Hutchinson was able to speak about the process of hiring correctional officers and the policies governing the operation of the facility, located adjacent to the sheriff’s office’s adult jail in Ashland.

The detention center looks for prospective correctional officers who have a college record and who have experience in various fields like coaching and church work, Hutchinson said.

“We evaluate each applicant,” he said. “The more college, the better.”

By state law, the facility does criminal background checks on all applicants. The Human Resources section performs drug screening and validates college degrees.

Job interviews for correctional officers are held at the detention center. Applicants tour the building and observe tasks being carried out by employees.

Hutchinson said the number of female and male correctional officers is not set, but the detention center has more male officers.

The facility contains one dorm for females with 20 beds, which typically is three quarters full. The average stay of an inmate is 10 to 14 days.

“Normally, females (officers) work with girls,” Hutchinson said. “We do our best to keep from crossing over.”

The ratio of correctional officers to inmates is eight to one during the day and 16 to one at night, though the ratio at night can shrink to eight to one, he said.

Those ratios are recommended by the American Correctional Association. Hutchinson said he believes they are good standards based on solid research.

Hutchinson also said most of the correctional officers live in Terrebonne Parish, although some come from the Thibodaux area.

“That’s not by design, it’s the way it works,” he said.

The Juvenile Detention Center, built in 1989, took on five inches of rain from Hurricane Ike last year. Terrebonne Parish government, which operates the facility, has earmarked federal Community Development Block Grant funds to build a new detention center north of the U.S. Highway 90 and La. Highway 24 interchange.

None of the funds has been allocated, however. The current detention center will become part of the adult jail.

The facility does not only house juvenile offenders, but provides instruction in anger management, conflict resolution, handling peer pressure and maintaining self-esteem.

Hutchinson made the following concluding statement: “Our people are working hard to provide children with services. They’re working on their GEDs, summer school is just starting. We do the best we can under difficult, challenging circumstances with difficult clientele. The people here are doing a good job.”