Ambassador Monthly Meeting/Grand Jury Tour of OCC

Hello Ambassadors!  We’ve gone to castles, 7^th story meetings, we have toured incredible businesses and now?  It’s time to go to jail and experience the tour that the District Attorney takes Grand Jury members on. 
 
Warden Paul Campbell is doing amazing things at Ouachita Correctional Center in Monroe.  We are invited to be his guests at OCC on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.  What should we expect?  As we start our visit, you will check in at the guard station in front of OCC.  Tell them you are here to see the Warden and that you are an Ambassador with the Monroe Chamber of Commerce.  You will park at the main building in a designated parking space.  Ladies, please leave your purses in your vehicles and lock them.  The Warden assured me that there is PLENTY of protection watching over you and your vehicles.  Absolutely no weapons are allowed including pocketknives, concealed carry, etc.  He says if you bring those in, you will be incarcerated with your new best friend, “Bubba”.  Cell phones are allowed to be on your person, but no photos inside the complex are allowed.  You can take photos outside.
 
From there, we will eat lunch (but not with the general population).  We will eat what the inmates eat, and I assure you, it’s good.  You will not be disappointed.  And yes, we still have to pay our $20 fee for lunch and the Chamber will pay OCC.  We will take the Grand Jury tour through booking, processing and even into the cells.  One lucky member will “imprisoned” in the padded cell.  From there, we will tour where the inmates are able to take classes and learn, and then we will tour their active welding department.  Warden Campbell will explain to us how teaching classes and a learning a trade greatly reduces the number of repeat offenders.  And that is good news for Monroe.
 
Oh, and I hope this is the first—and only--visit for you guys! I ask that you arrive at 11:30 so we can all have time to be processed.  We will end at 1.