66 women to be housed in new $5.12M prison, most from other regions

WEBSTER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Inmates currently being held on the fourth floor of a Webster courthouse can anticipate a relocation in the near future if plans for a new multi-million dollar women’s facility continue to stay on schedule.

The Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office (WPSO) shared the current progress on the project, which is expected to cost nearly $5.12 million.

The overall goal is to alleviate the current housing conditions, Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker shares the importance.

“The courthouse just isn’t sufficient and it’s time for an upgrade,” he said. “There have been lots of problems at the fourth floor, especially with drainage. They’ve had to shut down the courthouse before because of water getting into offices and courtrooms downstairs.”

Significant progress has been made on the new Webster Parish women’s prison, which is said to primarily house inmates from nearby parishes.

The Webster Parish Sheriff’s office shared an update on the project on Facebook, noting the completion of the facility’s foundation, plumbing, and electrical.

Shreveport-based company, Testament Construction Services of Shreveport, was awarded the contract for the project in December 2024 by Webster Parish Police Jury members.

The funding for the facility comes from multiple sources.

$2.5 million will come from money awarded to the police jury under the American Rescue Act of 2021 (ARA). Another $2.4 million is being given to the jury by the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The new facility will not just benefit the workers in the offices below the space, once inmates are moved into the new facility, the warden of Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center (BDCC), Scott Tucker, said there will be opportunities for inmates that were not possible at the old jail.

“We will be able to offer female inmates options for several classes that are not practical at the courthouse,” Tucker said in a recent speech to the Minden Lions Club. “Classrooms will be available for several programs I would like to see introduced.”

The new facility will be located on Penal Farm Rd. near the old parish penal farm, it is expected to be completed by mid-2026.