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Elayn Hunt Correctional
Center (EHCC) is an adult
male maximum security institution that was opened in 1979. It has an
offender population of 2,137 and is located at St.
Gabriel, Louisiana. EHCC
serves multiple functions for the Louisiana Department of Public Safety
and Corrections (DPS&C).
1. In addition to
housing 1,510 male offenders on a permanent basis, the EHCC facility has
the unique role of being the primary intake point for adult male
offenders committed to the DPS&C. An additional 452 beds are devoted
to this process known as HRDC (Hunt Reception and Diagnostic Center).
There is an additional 175 beds dedicated to the Intensive Motivational
Program for Alternative Correctional Treatment (IMPACT).
2. EHCC has 572 security positions
and 209 non-security positions in areas such as food service, education,
maintenance, medical services, mental health, classification, records,
and administration. It is the second largest prison in the state of
Louisiana.
3. EHCC is a maximum-security
facility, which houses maximum, medium, and minimum security offenders.
By departmental policy EHCC receives and holds other medium and maximum-security
disciplinary transfers, offenders with mental health and medical
concerns, shock incarceration participants, lifers, and minimum custody
offenders assigned to work crews. As such, the security and
administrative staff are versatile and skilled in managing offender
concerns.
4. As noted above, HRDC is the
reception center for offenders being received into state custody. HRDC
provides a comprehensive evaluation procedure for all diagnostic and
classification services. Newly committed offenders in the Louisiana
Department of Public Safety and Corrections receive a complete medical
examination, a thorough psychological evaluation, and an in-depth social
work-up. While assigned to the Reception Center, all offenders are
required to participate in mandatory training on Sexually Transmitted
Diseases and the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).This training is
conducted by Offender Peer Counselors under the supervision of mental
health and medical staff who are certified in the subject by the American
Red Cross. The reception procedure takes approximately two weeks, at the
end of which a staffing results in the offender being assigned to one of
the several Louisiana Department of Corrections facilities. Several
considerations are weighed in this placement staffing; the most important
factor considered being security. After a security status is established,
the specific needs of the offender are addressed and considered along
with institutional availability and institutional needs. The offender is
then transferred to the facility best suited to his and society's needs.
5. The management of
offenders assigned to local facilities located in Region II (the southern
portion of the state), along with Pre-Class and Records functions, falls within
the responsibility of the administration of EHCC. Our responsibility for
state offenders housed in local correctional facilities designated by the
Secretary as Region II facilities is unique. This responsibility includes
all case management functions. With the exception of physical custody,
EHCC Classification staff maintains responsibility for all aspects of
housing state offenders in these facilities.
6. EHCC offers a wide range
of job opportunities to its offender population. This includes jobs that
not only serve the institution, Department of Corrections, and
surrounding community, but the offenders as well, by instilling a work
ethic and, in many cases, offering job skills for the future. Included in
the job pool of EHCC are culinary operations, an on-site chemical plant,
maintenance crews and numerous community work crews.
7. There are several educational
programs at EHCC. Academically there is a literacy program; a basic adult
education course designed to upgrade basic reading and mathematical
skills, a G.E.D. preparatory course designed to enable an offender to
receive an equivalent high school diploma; and various programs designed
to meet special needs. Vocational education programs are available in
Welding, Automotive Repair, Carpentry, Air Conditioning &
Refrigeration, Outdoor Power Equipment, and Culinary Serv-Save
Certification Class.
8. In addition to the
educational programs offered, EHCC has an extensive recreational program
encompassing all types of organized sports from baseball and football to
boxing and basketball. There are also numerous offender organizations at
EHCC, both religious and secular in nature. The Jaycees, Men of Faith,
Catholic Men's Fellowship, Music Club, Alcoholics Anonymous, Alumni
Association, Students of Islam, Health & Fitness, Veterans
Incarcerated and Toastmasters are examples of the many offender clubs we
have to offer to the offender population.
9. EHCC also serves as a
medical facility for seriously or chronically ill offenders. To meet the
needs of those who are terminally ill and have less than six months to
live. EHCC has an End of Life Program. The program is affiliated with the
Louisiana Hospice Organization and through staff and offender volunteers,
offenders facing their last days are made as comfortable as possible.
EHCC has the responsibility of providing chronic mental health care on
both an inpatient and outpatient basis for offender in state custody.
This unit is known as the Hunt Special Unit (HSU). EHCC is staffed with
full time doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, a dentist and several
part-time specialty doctors in the fields of Internal Medicine,
Psychiatry, Radiology, and Neurology. Along with medical services, EHCC
provides the offender population with a comprehensive program of social
services. Among the services available there is Substance Abuse Group;
Hepatitis C Support Group; Sex Offender Treatment Group; HIV/AIDS counseling
services and a comprehensive pre-release program. Counseling components
of EHCC's Mental Health Program are crisis intervention as well as
individual and group therapy. EHCC offers these clinical services
utilizing psychologists, and licensed counselors.
10. EHCC has an offender cemetery
at its Carville property. The cemetery, named Lone
Oak Cemetery,
rests under a majestic oak which is registered with the Live Oaks Society
and is the result of the staff and offender population's desire to
provide a resting place with dignity for those who expire while confined
to our custody.
11. It is the policy of EHCC to
include and encourage the services of citizen volunteers in the
educational, social, religious, and recreational programming of offender
activities at the facility. We realize that volunteers play an integral role
in the offenders' rehabilitation process.
12. The most visible program at
EHCC has been our shock incarceration program, known as IMPACT. The
IMPACT was established at Hunt in February of 1987. It is one of several
"Boot Camp" operations in the United States today. This program
has received both national and international attention having been
featured as a model program by the American Correctional Association and
recipient of the association's "Best Practices" Award. IMPACT
is a two-part program, consisting of a period of a minimum 180 days of
highly regimented, tightly structured treatment program within a military
model followed by a period of intensive parole supervision. The main
purpose of IMPACT is to provide a satisfactory alternative to the
long-term incarceration of primarily youthful first and second offenders,
thereby helping to relieve crowding conditions that exist in prisons
throughout Louisiana. The highly structured IMPACT program promotes and
provides an atmosphere for offenders to learn personal confidence,
personal responsibility, self-respect and respect for others' attitudes
and value systems. The program is based on the expectation that the
acquisition of the above skills and personal abilities will significantly
increase offenders' abilities to lead law-abiding, creative and
fulfilling lives as contributing members of free society. Additional
information on this program and requirements for participation can be
found in the IMPACT Manual.
In conclusion, EHCC is a centralized multi-service facility
diversified in functions that benefit all of Louisiana Department of
Public Safety and Corrections.
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