Ouachita Correctional Center
Administration
Major Chris Jerkins, Warden
Major Chris Jerkins has dedicated more than two decades to the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, serving with distinction in both operational and leadership roles. He began his law enforcement career in 2000 as a Reserve Deputy before becoming a full-time deputy in 2003, assigned to the Ouachita Correctional Center (OCC).
In 2012, he transferred to the Training Division, where he was responsible for staff development and instruction at the North Delta Regional Training Academy. During this time, he earned multiple instructor credentials, including POST Level 1 and Level 2, Louisiana POST Firearms Instructor, and specialized certifications in Defensive Tactics, Less Lethal, and CERT. His instructional expertise helped shape the professional development of countless deputies. In addition, he served as Team Commander of the Ouachita Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) from 2009 to 2021, leading tactical operations and high-risk interventions.
Promoted to Lieutenant in 2017, Jerkins continued his service in the Training Division before advancing to Captain in 2021, when he returned to OCC to serve as Assistant Warden. On September 29, 2025, he was promoted to Major and appointed Warden of the Ouachita Correctional Center, where he now oversees all facility operations, security, and staff leadership.
Major Jerkins is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Monroe and the 87th Session of the North Delta Regional Training Academy.
Captain Richie A. Varino
Captain Richie A. Varino has dedicated nearly two decades to public safety and corrections leadership, currently serving as a Lead Supervisor at the Ouachita Correctional Center (OCC). Since joining the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office in 2006, he has risen through the ranks; promoted to Corporal in 2009, Sergeant in 2012, and Lieutenant in 2019.
In his role at OCC, Captain Varino is responsible for overseeing shift operations. Captain Varino has extensive tactical experience, serving as Co-Commander of the OCC Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT) under the leadership of Major Warden Chris Jerkins. He has played a key role in high-risk interventions and tactical operations both inside the correctional facility and in support of OPSO operations in the community. Certified as a CERT Instructor, he has trained deputies in specialized tactical operations and emergency response.
Before beginning his law enforcement career, Captain Varino proudly served in the United States Air Force from 2002 to 2006. Stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri with the 509th Bomb Wing and 442nd Fighter Wing, he worked as a Fire Truck Mechanic while cross-training as a Security Forces Augmentee. His service included deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom at Shabaz Air Base, Pakistan (2004), and Operation Iraqi Freedom II at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait (2006). In these roles, he maintained multimillion-dollar emergency vehicles, supported convoy defense, and contributed to overall mission readiness.
Captain Varino is also committed to continuous professional development. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security (2020) and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration (2021) from Columbia Southern University, as well as an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice (2015).
He is a graduate of the North Delta Regional Training Police Academy (98th Class, 2007). His specialized certifications include CERT Instructor, Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) training, and numerous tactical and leadership courses through the U.S. Air Force and OPSO.
The Ouachita Correctional Center (OCC) has served the residents of Ouachita Parish since 1963, when it first opened with a capacity of 180 inmates. Over the decades, the facility has expanded to meet the evolving needs of the parish and now operates with a maximum bed capacity of 1,222.
Today, OCC houses inmates for the Louisiana Department of Corrections, individuals sentenced through parish courts, and pretrial detainees awaiting court proceedings. The facility is staffed by approximately 150 deputies of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, who are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, safety, and accountability.
Our primary mission is to operate a safe, secure, and efficiently managed correctional facility for the citizens of Ouachita Parish. As the only jail facility serving the parish, OCC plays a critical role in supporting public safety and the local criminal justice system.
The Ouachita Correctional Center’s Administrative Division is responsible for the effective oversight and management of the facility’s $13 million operating budget. Funding is derived from parish tax revenues as well as reimbursements for housing Louisiana Department of Corrections inmates.
The Administration Division is led by the Warden and Deputy Warden, who provide strategic direction and oversight for all OCC personnel. Supporting daily operations, an Administrative Lieutenant manages critical functions including the facility kitchen, inmate trust accounts, trustee labor programs, sentence processing, and a wide range of essential clerical and administrative responsibilities.
A core priority of the Administration Division is operational efficiency, ensuring that resources are responsibly managed while maintaining safe, secure, and professional correctional operations in service to the citizens of Ouachita Parish.
How OCC Maintains Operational Efficiency
The Ouachita Correctional Center implements cost-effective practices that support both fiscal responsibility and inmate care. Meals served in the OCC kitchen are approved by a registered dietitian and are prepared at an average cost of $0.55–$0.65 per meal, ensuring nutritional standards are met while controlling expenses.
To further enhance efficiency, OCC operates a self-managed farm that produces several types of fresh vegetables. These crops are incorporated directly into daily meal preparation, creating a farm-to-table model that reduces food costs, minimizes waste, and supports sustainable operations.
Trustee Program Cost Savings
The Ouachita Correctional Center utilizes a robust inmate trustee program that provides essential operational support while delivering significant cost savings to Ouachita Parish taxpayers.
Trustees working within OCC:
$1,547,396 in estimated labor cost savingsTrustees assigned to other public agencies:
$547,781 in estimated labor cost savingsTotal estimated taxpayer savings:
$2,095,177*
*Savings calculated using minimum wage as the baseline.
This program allows OCC and partnering public agencies to operate more efficiently while providing trustees with structured work experience and accountability.
Employment Opportunities
We are hiring for these positions:
Security Deputies: Maintain the safety and security of the Correctional Center, escort offenders to court, medical call, educational classes and attorney visits.
Medical Staff: Must be LPN, RN, EMT or Paramedic - Triage offenders, administer medication, coordinate with medical doctors and dentists.
Booking Deputies: Process incoming offenders, fingerprint offenders, coordinate the release of offenders per courts, assist with court proceedings on site.
Security Division
The Security Division is the backbone of the Ouachita Correctional Center, responsible for the safe, secure, and orderly operation of the facility.
This division includes 17 Booking personnel who manage the intake and release of individuals entering and exiting OCC. On average, 40 to 70 individuals are processed each day, requiring accuracy, efficiency, and strict adherence to procedure.
In addition, the Security Division is comprised of 76 security deputies who oversee the facility’s day-to-day operations. Their responsibilities include offender movement, housing assignments, meal distribution, discipline, and ongoing personnel training, all of which are critical to maintaining order and safety within the jail.
Security Division deputies work 12-hour shifts, assigned to straight days or straight nights, following a four-days-on, four-days-off schedule. With the exception of medical staff, all new hires begin their careers in the Security Division, unless they possess prior patrol experience and are currently Louisiana POST-certified.
The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office has a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual violence, sexual harassment, and/or sexual misconduct involving staff and those in our custody.
If you have information or believe a person under our custody has been subjected to conduct of this nature, please notify the OPSO PREA Coordinator Sgt. Amber Bowlen at 318-324-2700, or you may report to the OPSO Criminal Investigations Division by calling 318-324-2650.
PREA Audits / Reports
As a true correctional facility, the Ouachita Correctional Center is committed to offering meaningful rehabilitation and self-improvement programs designed to promote positive behavioral change and reduce recidivism.
OCC provides a variety of structured classes and programs, including HiSET (GED) education, Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous, Freedmen, Anger Management, and Celebrate Recovery. These programs focus on accountability, personal growth, and equipping individuals with skills that support successful reintegration into the community.
OCC’s rehabilitation efforts are strengthened by a dedicated network of volunteers from local churches, whose service and mentorship play a vital role in supporting positive outcomes and long-term change.
Rehabilitation Programs
OCC’s medical needs are met by a 24-hour Medical Division staffed by Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, and Emergency Medical Technicians. Additionally, OCC is regularly visited by a Psychologist and a Doctor.
Medical Division
The Cell Extraction Response Team (C.E.R.T.) is a highly trained tactical unit that is responsible for a variety of duties, from transporting high-risk inmates to responding to a riot.
CERT
Work Release
Interesting Facts:
To help reduce the financial burden on taxpayers, Sheriff Marc Mashaw has implemented innovative initiatives that allow the Ouachita Correctional Center to generate its own revenue. One of the most successful of these efforts is the Women’s Temporary Work Program (WTWP).
WTWP allows approved female inmates to work off-compound at local businesses while remaining housed at OCC. Through this program, participants are able to earn income during incarceration, contribute toward the cost of their confinement, and gain valuable work experience.
In addition to generating revenue, the program promotes personal responsibility, workforce readiness, and rehabilitation, all of which help reduce the likelihood of reoffending and support successful reintegration into the community.
In support of the local government, OCC provides trustees, who have been carefully considered, to a host of public agencies, including:
-Ouachita Parish Police Jury
-Ouachita Parish Fire Department
-Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter
-University of Louisiana at Monroe
-Cheniere Lake Park
-Monroe Police Department
Although operated by the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, OCC is actually funded by Ouachita Parish Police Jury.
All Ouachita Parish Law Enforcement Agencies rely on OCC to detain their arrests.
Agencies that book into OCC:
Video visitation is now operational. Visit the OCC Inmate section on this website for detail.