St. Landry Parish president explains how healthcare is handled for inmates

Zane Hogue
·2 min read

ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY)– When inmates are brought to jail, there are some who are dealing with injures, but what does treatment look like once they’re booked in?

News 10 sat down with Parish President Jessie Bellard who walked through what inmate care looks like, and how they ensure all are treated appropriately.

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“We do not accept inmates that are not medically cleared from the hospital or doctors,” Bellard said. “If they have open wounds or if they’re complaining of anything, they go to the hospital, and they’re brought back with the proper paperwork. Once they’re released, they’re booked into the system.”

Bellard said if any inmates were on healthcare such as Medicaid, they are no longer covered once they enter the jail.

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With that obstacle, Bellard and parish government assign doctors and nurses to fit the needs of each inmate to assist with their health issues or injuries.

“At that point they become 100% parish government’s responsibility,” Bellard said. “They get dental, they get healthcare, they get anything they would as if they were a private citizen on the streets. On medication, they get whatever the doctor prescribes, except for narcotics. We do not put narcotics in our jail.”

With the lack of narcotics, Bellard said some inmates become complacent and try to spread word that the jail doesn’t give inmates the proper care.

With nurses, doctors and proper medication costing the parish money, Bellard said they will continue to provide the necessary services to inmates but will remain true to the law and the jail standards.

“And I keep on telling these people that if they don’t like the accommodations that we have at my hotel across the street, don’t come,” Bellard said. “I didn’t ask them to come in the jail. I will follow the law to the letter. Their choice that they took was to come in the jail, but everybody is going to get the care that is needed. Nobody is going to be left with no care.”

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