News & Recognition : Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office

News & Recognition

•	Testimonials

•	Special Pubs

•	Commendations

Deputy Honored as ACA Corrections Officer
Congratulations to Deputy Olugbenga Shomade, he is following the footsteps of his Work Release co-workers and supervisors and setting a trend in the process.

In May, Deputy Shomade passed the ACA Corrections Officer Exam. With this accomplishment, Shomade became the first driver to obtain this status and the fourth Work Release employee to receive ACA certification.

Citizen Praises Sheriff's Innovative Programs

Dear Sheriff Neustrom:

Just so you know that I do write complimentary letters in addition to those that criticize, please accept my praise for some of your innovative programs that have been recently highlighted in the media. The programs I speak of are the direct supervision of prisoners approach; the off-site telecommunication visitation for families of prisoners; the call program for the elderly; and the day reporting programs for some offenders. All of these programs show your very humanistic approach to corrections and the general human condition. You are a different kind of sheriff from the standard old Louisiana model, and it has taken some adjustment by the jaded downtown crowd (myself included) to see the wisdom of your ways. Anyway, thank you for your innovative programs, and I am always available with an opinion. I don't lack opinions.

With kind regards, I remain Very truly yours, Albert M. Karre', Jr.

Home : Community Relations : News & Recognition

Press Releases

IOP to Graduate Seven

Monday, October 1, 2007

The Lafayette Parish Community Corrections Center announces the graduation of the first class in the Day Reporting Intensive Outpatient Program. The graduation will be held at the Community Corrections Center located at 100 Poydras Street in Lafayette on October 4 during the regularly scheduled group sessions (1:30p & 6:00p).

Graduates have successfully completed the 90-day program, which entails group sessions four times a week and individual sessions at least once a week. These graduates will now enter yearlong aftercare and provide mentoring and sponsorship to future DRIOP participants. This involvement with the program enables the individual to receive continual support and allows the participant to become embedded with his recovery and the program.

The DRIOP began in June 2007 and enrollment is at capacity with a waiting list of applicants. This program is the only IOP operating out of a correctional facility in the state of Louisiana. Seven individuals will graduate in this first class.

The DRIOP is for recovering addicts and is available to anyone who has been incarcerated in the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center or surrounding parishes. Research suggests that substance abuse programs for offenders are greatly needed and provide an effective alternative to incarceration. The Bureau of Justice Statistics released data stating that more than two-thirds of jail inmates were found to be dependent on or to abuse alcohol or drugs. According to a survey conducted by the Office of Justice Programs / Corrections Program Office, approximately 70-percent of all State prison inmates are in need of substance abuse treatment. Upon release, only one-third will receive needed treatment.

The DRIOP is funded by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office and provides much needed treatment services and follow-up support for substance abusers. Participants pay a $40 registration fee and $7 a week for drug screens. Similar programs are much more costly at an average rate of $3000 for the entire program.

The DRIOP is the result of a two-year process that culminated with license approval by Department of Health and Hospital (DHH) on June 19, 2007. DRIOP has over forty years combined experience in their staff. The program operates out of the Community Corrections Center, located at 100 Poydras Street in Lafayette.

Leah Dishong
Corrections PIO
Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office
337-231-6365 ext 25