Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, prison in St. Gabriel, Louisiana
Elayn Hunt Correctional Center is a state prison for men in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, holding inmates across several security levels. The grounds include housing units, medical facilities, and work areas, all enclosed within a perimeter of tall fencing and razor wire.
The prison opened in 1979 and has been run by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections ever since. Around 2010, its role shifted to become the main intake and classification center for male inmates arriving from across the state.
The center is named after Elayn Hunt, a former secretary of the Louisiana Department of Corrections who pushed for reform inside the state prison system. Her name on the building is a reminder that the facility was shaped by debates about how incarceration should be carried out.
Anyone wishing to visit must be approved in advance and bring a valid photo ID on the day. It is worth planning the visit well ahead of time, as available slots are limited and must be arranged through the inmate's classification officer.
Since 2002, the facility has maintained a cemetery on its grounds for unidentified or unclaimed remains of inmates who died in custody. The graves are tended by other inmates, making this one of the more unusual responsibilities that come with running a long-term prison.
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