HLS 10RS-3623 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 155
BY REPRESENTATIVES CHAMPAGNE AND PATRI CIA SMITH
LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR: Directs the office of the legislative auditor to conduct a
performance audit of the Board of Parole and Board of Pardons
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To direct the office of the legislative auditor to conduct a detailed performance study and2
audit of the Board of Pardons and the Board of Parole regarding the efficiency of the3
operations of each board and the feasibility of combining the two boards into one4
board, and to report its findings to the Legislature of Louisiana prior to the5
convening of the 2012 Regular Session of the Legislature.6
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana is suffering from a fiscal crisis of an7
unprecedented magnitude; and8
WHEREAS, many states are combating increasing costs of incarceration by moving9
nonviolent offenders into less expensive alternatives including community-based probation10
and parole; and11
WHEREAS, according to a recent study by the PEW Center on the states, Louisiana12
has the highest incarceration rate in the United States; and13
WHEREAS, many criminal penalties in Louisiana provide for mandatory terms of14
imprisonment and do not allow for the suspension of sentence, probation, parole, or15
diminution of sentence for good behavior; and16
WHEREAS, beginning on January 1, 1997, offenders convicted of crimes of violence17
are required to serve eighty-five percent of their sentences before being eligible for parole;18
and19
WHEREAS, the number of inmates in custody in Louisiana, coupled with the length20
of their sentences has had tremendous economic impact on the budget of this state; and21 HLS 10RS-3623 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 155
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WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana and R.S. 15:5721
provide for the Board of Pardons to make recommendations regarding commutation of2
sentences and pardons; and3
WHEREAS, R.S. 15:574.2 provides for a Board of Parole to make determinations4
regarding the granting or denial of parole; and5
WHEREAS, it is imperative that the operations of these boards work as efficiently6
as possible; and7
WHEREAS, it would be beneficial for the citizens of this state for an audit of the8
boards to be conducted to determine whether it is feasible to continue operating a separate9
Board of Parole and a Board of Pardons.10
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby11
direct the office of the legislative auditor to undertake a detailed performance study and12
audit of the Board of Pardons and the Board of Parole regarding the efficiency of the13
operations of each board and the feasibility of combining the two boards, and to report its14
findings to the Legislature of Louisiana prior to the convening of the 2012 Regular Session15
of the Legislature.16
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted17
to the legislative auditor.18
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Champagne HCR No. 155
Directs the office of the legislative auditor to undertake a detailed performance study and
audit of the Board of Pardons and the Board of Parole regarding the efficiency of the
operations of each board and the feasibility of combining the two boards, and to report its
findings to the Legislature of La. prior to the convening of the 2012 Regular Session of the
Legislature.