Sheriff Says Trustee Dorm Isn’t Ready
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz is questioning the immediate availability of a proposed inmate trustee dormitory that is expected to help create more inmate space inside the parish jail.
Guidroz addressed the Parish Council over the matter during a Wednesday night meeting.
The sheriff and parish president Jessie Bellard have been embroiled during the past several months in discussions and civil litigation over the costs paid by the parish for State Department Of Corrections inmates housed in the parish jail.
Both Guidroz and Bellard have touted the trustee dormitory as a key solution to alleviate crowding at the parish jail.
Construction for the trustee dormitory located near the corners of Bellevue and Court streets in Opelousas, is apparently near completion. When finished the dormitory is expected to accommodate at least 60 trustees who are awaiting the dispositions of their state sentences, according to both Guidroz and Bellard.
Guidroz told Council members that he is currently opposed to moving any inmates into the trustee dorm due to what he said are structural, safety and inmate privacy concerns.
Electrical issues such as exposed hanging wires and unfinished electrical outlets are a concern that Guidroz said might draw the attention of fire marshal inspectors.
Guidroz pointed to what he claimed are hygiene issues that include a lack of soap dispensers, while shower and toilet stalls Guidroz feels have too much open space which create too much unnecessary human exposure.
“The inmates have little or no privacy,” Guidroz added as he described what he sees as the openness that he said exists in the toilet and shower areas.
Guidroz also pointed out that there are too many places in the ceiling and ductwork areas of the dormitory that could be available for the trustees to hide contraband items.
Council members asked Guidroz for a check llist of problems that Guidroz now considers problematic with the dormitory.
Bellard told the Council several times that he didn’t feel that it was appropriate to comment on any of the accusations made by Guidorz in connection with the dormitory since he and the sheriff are oppositely engaged in a state district court lawsuit.
Several council members said that they are being asked by constituents about why the parish and sheriff are preparing for court hearings.
“People have been calling me and asking what the hell are you’all doing?” said council member Alvin Stelly.
At a November meeting the Council voted for Bellard to proceed with the lawsuit against the sheriff.
According to the lawsuit filed by Bellard against the sheriff, the parish is asking the court to require that the sheriff transfer all DOC inmates to state facilities and return as many inmates as possible to the parish jail.
The court petition also asks to rule that the parish is not responsible for the daily costs associated with DOC inmates and asks a judge to make a monetary judgment for the amount of revenue that the sheriff department has received for the DOC prisoners at the expense of parish government.
