Louisiana Gov. Appoints Gary Westcott as Prison Chief

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has appointed Gary Westcott as the new secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections following the resignation of Jimmy LeBlanc due to health issues. Westcott, who has nearly 30 years of experience in probation and parole management, previously served as deputy secretary and oversaw the Division of Community and Executive Services. His appointment comes as Landry prioritizes public safety and aims to address Louisiana's high incarceration rate, which is the highest in the nation at 1,067 per 100,000 residents. Amid ongoing investigations into drug problems in the prison system, Westcott expressed his commitment to enhancing public safety and fixing the prison system. He has also worked as a corrections warden and has a background in law enforcement training. Landry's administration has introduced tough-on-crime laws and called a Special Session to address crime concerns in the state.