Forcht-Wade Correctional Center was built in 1977 by Caddo Parish. It originally was built and operated as a full high-security level prison for many years. In the late 1990’s, Caddo Parish gifted the Forcht-Wade Correctional Center to the State of Louisiana Department of Corrections. It was then closed as a “full prison” when the new Caddo Correctional Center was put into operation. Although it was closed down as a full prison, the State of Louisiana Department of Corrections used the prison to house state prisoners that were chronically ill and elderly due to it having an infirmary already established on the grounds. In 2010, Forcht-Wade Correctional Center again changed operations. The State of Louisiana Department of Corrections converted the former prison again, but this time it became a residential substance abuse treatment for approximately 500 male inmates. In 2012, the State of Louisiana Department of Corrections announced that Forcht-Wade Correctional Center will close due to state budget cuts. The prisoners were relocated to other facilities and by the end of 2012, Forcht-Wade Correctional Center was left vacant. In 2014, after sitting vacant for over two years, Forcht-Wade Correctional Center was returned back to Caddo Parish from the Louisiana Department of Corrections. Caddo Parish officials wanted to repurpose the former prison yet again, but when they went to inspect the property and buildings, they realized they had significant problems. Caddo Parish found that the State of Louisiana Department of Corrections had left the facility in complete disarray. Caddo Parish officials filed lawsuit against the State of Louisiana Department of Corrections after finding nearly 35 tons of waste, metal, and trash scattered throughout the property. There was also major damage to the facility’s electrical infrastructure that would have costed an estimated half a million dollars to repair. This was too expensive for Caddo Parish to afford, so they decided to filed the lawsuit. The lawsuit never happened after the State of Louisiana Department of Corrections threatened to file a counter suit. In 2016, it was decided that Forcht-Wade Correctional Center was rapidly deteriorating and was completed abandoned. It sat abandoned for several years. In 2021, Forcht-Wade Correctional Center was finally demolished ending a years long battle between Caddo Parish and the State of Louisiana Department of Corrections.