Prison In Keithville Closes, Jobs Lost

KEITHVILLE, La. (AP) — A prison in this north Louisiana town is closing down — a victim of state budget cuts.

The Times reports (http://bit.ly/LMPpEB ) that the Forcht-Wade Correctional Center officially closes its doors Sunday.

The facility housed 500 inmates and employed 139 employees. Corrections officials say 64 of those workers were transferred to David Wade Correctional Center in Homer while 69 others were laid off. Six other workers retired.

"We are trying to take care of them as best as we can and pursue every avenue we can in helping landing them on their feet," said Louisiana Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc.

Inmates assigned to a substance abuse program at the prison and other state inmates were transferred to Bossier Parish maximum- and medium-security facilities.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.shreveporttimes.com