2017 Legislative Recap – Criminal Justice Reform

by | Jun 9, 2017 | One Acadiana News

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment of the 2017 Regular Session was criminal justice reform. A bipartisan package of 10 bills, developed through the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Task Force, passed both chambers. The overhaul is projected to reduce the state’s prison population by 10 percent over the next decade, saving the state approximately $262 million. Most of the savings will be reinvested to strengthen rehabilitation and reentry programs and improve public safety.

Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the nation, with 816 out of every 100,000 Louisianans behind bars. We spend nearly $20,000 per year per inmate, costing more than $700 million to the state annually. Given Louisiana’s budget pressures and workforce needs, 1A – along with LABI and other business organizations – recognized this as an issue the business community couldn’t afford to ignore.

1A’s advocacy on criminal justice reform focused most on reducing barriers to reentry and providing for more successful transition into the workforce. For example, 1A supported HB249 (Magee), which tailors fines and fees to an individual’s ability to pay, and HB519 (Emerson), which expands eligibility for individuals to receive employment licenses. 1A also supported HB489 (Leger), which provides the framework for how the savings realized from criminal justice reform will be reinvested to improve public safety and employability. Most of the savings will be realized through changes to sentencing guidelines, which effectively lower the incarceration rate. Three of the key bills that help accomplish this aim are SB220 and SB221 (Alario) and HB139 (Martiny).

1A commends the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Task Force and legislators on both sides of the aisle for coming together to address this critical issue. The solutions reached are a win-win-win that will improve public safety, workforce and social outcomes, and the state’s fiscal health.