It’s funny how a change in bosses can bring about an almost seamless change in philosophy on the part of subordinates who harbor a desire to keep their jobs.
Take Jimmy LeBlanc, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, said in May of this year that he didn’t believe it would be worth it in terms of any cost savings to privatize five state PRISONS.
Yet, only five years earlier, on May 8, 2012, LeBlanc was quoted in New Orleans’ GAMBIT magazine as saying he hoped the $8 million per year in savings from the privatization of just a single state prison—Avoyelles Correctional Center (AVC) in Cottonport—could be reinvested into rehabilitative programs. He even said AVC was an ideal candidate for the plan because it was similar to the privately-run facilities in Winn and Allen parishes.
What’s the reason behind LeBlanc’s position change?
Well, for openers, in 2012, he was serving as head of corrections as an appointee of then-Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal. Today, he is serving in the administration of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who reappointed him in January 2016.
The contrasting positions appear to be classic examples of political hacks swaying with the prevailing winds. Jindal wanted to privatize prisons so he could get an infusion of quick cash to smooth over annual gaping holes in his budget. Edwards, not so much. In fact, Edwards is downright opposed to the idea of privatization, leaning instead toward reducing the state’s prison population by freeing non-violent offenders. Jindal preferred keeping the prison beds full in order to keep a continuous flow of cash to private prison operators who are paid on the basis of head counts.
But the contrast doesn’t end there.
As pointed out in the 2012 Gambit article, LeBlanc said AVC was an ideal candidate for privatization because it was so similar to those private facilities in Winn and Allen. At that time, they had been downgraded to “jail” status, thereby allowing state officials to eliminate education and rehabilitation programs.
Well, guess what?
Last May, LeBlanc was singing a different tune about the attributes of those facilities, saying that he was in favor of restoring the Winn and Allen facilities to “prison” status, a move that would necessarily bring the state back into the picture. Apparently, what was “ideal” under the Jindal administration didn’t quite measure up under Edwards. But LeBlanc is nothing if not flexible.
It’s probably that flexibility that has allowed LeBlanc and others in the Department of Public Safety to survive when appointees in other agencies were shown the door with the ushering in of a new administration.
Survival. It’s a great motivator.
Louisiana Voice 
Actually that all started in 2010 into 2011. Horrible time for all of our families but we fought and won. We fought hard, our money, our time, the loss of a normal life. I learned the Capitol in and out and learned that most do not bother to turn up when they need to vote. I also learned their are crappy, self motivated by greed people but I also learned there were some willing to stick their necks out no matter what. Thank God for strong WOMEN!!!! We did it. .
Cajun B your comments sound intriguing. What is it that you and others did and where did it occur? Thanks.
Well, which one of these two buffoons wants to remove the shackles from the hoodlum juveniles piling into our courts? http://www.soundoffla.com/?p=1150.
Thank God President Trump is going to the wall to try his best to keep us all safe!!
Well if Trump found a wall I’ll bet he didn’t get Mexico to pay for it. All Trump needs is four padded walls and cancellation of cell service. This is America, the land of the free and not the land of me,me,me. You can thank God when his four years are up though I doubt it’ll take that long the way his minions are falling. I’m sure he must try to sleep (when he’s not tweeting) with visions of Muellers dancing in his head.
And he, no doubt, sleeps in the same position as when awake – with his head fully up his own you-know-what.
Neither of you addressed the issue of removing the shackles from Johnny the hoodlum in court due to the fact it may traumatize him. What about the victims of Johnny the hoodlum and the family scars these people leave behind forever with family victims? Watching that video makes me sick to my stomach!
I didn’t answer it because I don’t see what it has to do with the subject of this thread. I don’t know enough about juvenile court to have an opinion on unshackling offenders in the courtroom, but I would think having anybody shackled in the courtroom would give the impression of guilt and, if the hearing is one determining that, it should not be a practice. If the issue is public courtroom personnel safety and guilt is not at issue, it should take precedence over concerns for the trauma of the offender.
Thank you Stephen and well put.
Tom you would bie incorrect on when Winn and Allen went to jail status!! It was not 2012 nor prior to 2012!! With a phone call or two I’ll bet you can come up with the correct dates!! Hint – October 1, 20– !
Politicians always talk out of both sides of their mouths but this Mr. LeBlanc seems to flow like two sheets in the wind.
As far as Trump is concerned he will get Hillary by the time this is all over with and if he can do that much then he has done more than anyone did before him.
Mueller could have already taken care of her but Comey let her slide and it appears that Mueller knew about it too.
Cajun B, great job girlfriend and if what you women did to help the situation worked, then keep doing it. Remember this though, behind every good man is a good woman and vice versa.
Don’t rule out our men just yet because we need them for the heavy lifting and hitting. There are a lot of good ones out there but I have to admit they have plenty wimps when it comes to making a positive change because these kinds are too busy watching football, baseball, basketball, golf, fishing and hunting in their spare time and couldn’t care less about what is going on around them.
This is why things have gotten to the point where we are now. They have the mentality that someone else is going to take care of it for them.
We have a lot of dedicated men out there who do care and are willing to step up to the plate and try to correct the wrong others do. The best example of all is Mr. Toms blog. He does a great job and service to the public by exposing all this corruption because no one else would do it. The media sure won’t put it out there for sure. They don’t want to lose their jobs. If it wouldn’t be for Louisiana Voice no one would know what is going on so lets be grateful for Mr.
Tom. He has to spend a lot of time and money researching and putting this together for every one to be aware of what is happening. Without him we would all be in the dark.
We are going to have to start referring to Mr.Tom as our Beacon of Light!