By Corrections1 Staff
ST. GABRIEL, La. — Corrections officers and inmates at a Louisiana prison have formed a surprising partnership to make the facility safer.
Inmates at the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center are teaming up with officers to combat drugs and violence at the prison, WAFB reports.
“Clearly, this institution has a problem with drugs and violence. Every institution does. We, as offenders, are trying to come together to help authorities where we can to try to curb it,” inmate Marlon Banks said.
Albert King, another inmate, said he learned that a lot of his fellow prisoners are “followers” who “need somebody to lead.” Inmates at the prison met with law enforcement and community leaders to come up with a mentorship program.
Mentors move into dorms where inmates with disciplinary problems stay in to live and coach them. Warden Tim Hooper said the program is showing great results.
“We used to see cell phones show up. We used to see contraband show up. It’s pretty much ceased,” Hooper said.
Hooper also said violence at the facility is down as well, which he attributes to the hope the mentoring inmates bring to their troubled prisoners.
“At the end of the day, it comes down to choices. Individual choices. You just have to make the right choice,” King said.