COVINGTON, LA (AP) — When Randy Smith takes the oath of office as St. Tammany Parish sheriff on July 1, his office will take over the Slidell work-release facility that was privatized three years ago under Smith's predecessor.
The New Orleans Advocate’s Sara Pagones reports St. Tammany Parish Workforce Solutions' contract ends June 30, and Allen Tingle, one of the owners, turned down an offer from Smith to stay on as operator for a transitional period of a few months.
Smith said his reason for offering a limited extension to the current operators was to avoid any disruption for the local businesses.
The program enables convicts nearing the end of incarceration to work at jobs in the community during the day and sleep at the work-release facility.
