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Sheriff Henry Whitehorn announces a vital new partnership between the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop and implement a comprehensive Re-Entry Education and Training Program for eligible individuals within Caddo Parish.

The program addresses one of the nation’s most significant challenges regarding recidivism (re-offending), where many individuals return to incarceration within an average of three years of release. A lack of education, technical skills, and job opportunities is identified as a major contributing factor to this cycle. The new re-entry program is designed to address these complex issues directly.

The proposed initiative outlines a framework for a holistic and sustainable re-entry program that combines education, technical training, and support services to provide incarcerated individuals with meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth. Re-entry education programs have been shown to reduce reoffending rates significantly by equipping individuals with the necessary skills and competencies to reintegrate successfully into their communities. The program is important not only for returning citizens but also for the overall well-being and economic growth of Caddo Parish.

Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) is a leading educational institution committed to academic excellence and workforce development. The partnership combines SUSLA’s academic expertise with CPSO’s mission to build a strong re-entry infrastructure, delivering hands-on educational and workforce development opportunities that support community rehabilitation.

“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Chancellor Aubra Gantt and her dedicated team at Southern University at Shreveport. They have shown a deep understanding of why this program is so important and have committed to providing curriculum design, instruction, training resources, and post-training support to ensure its success,” said Sheriff Whitehorn.

CPSO will be tracking the success of this strategic initiative through key performance indicators (KPIs), including recidivism reduction and job placement rates. Furthermore, the success metrics will include evaluating the program’s economic and social benefits for the community.

For questions regarding this press release, please contact Breck Scott