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Plans are in the works to close the decaying parish jail in downtown Lafayette and build a new jail next to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office facility on West Willow Street.
Parish Councilman Josh Carlson confirmed the details of what’s been a quietly crafted plan alongside Councilman Kevin Naquin and Mayor-President Josh Guillory's administration in the past six months.
The plan is to develop a proposal that would shutter the current jail, construct a new facility and make way for a major change to downtown Lafayette’s skyline.
“We've really done our homework over the last six months to sit down and meet with people … It's a public safety and business enhancing measure, and we're going to continue to throw money into this old, dilapidated jail if we don't do something,” Carlson said.