Winn Correctional Center — Highest Average Daily Population in Louisiana
Overview
Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield, Winn Parish, was a state prison that converted to ICE detention in 2019, shifting from state prisoners to asylum seekers and immigrants. Operated by LaSalle Corrections, it had an average daily population of 1,491 detainees as of late 2023 — the highest of any Louisiana facility.
The facility has been the subject of years of complaints about filthy conditions, inadequate medical care, brutal use of force, and systemic problems. Both Winn and Richwood Correctional Center were operating over their contractual capacities by several dozen detainees.
Why It Matters
Winn Parish (population ~14,000) is one of Louisiana’s most budget-distressed parishes. The detention center is a major employer and revenue source. The town of Winnfield is where the Washington Post profiled how locals supported the ICE center as economic lifeblood even as conditions deteriorated — a textbook example of the detention economy creating dependency.