ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 178
BY REPRESENTATIVE ROSALIND JONES AND SENATOR THOMPSON
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To authorize and request the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to conduct a
statewide evaluation of the commodities offered through canteen services, to study
the feasibility of developing uniform prices for all commodities offered to inmates,
and to report its findings prior to the convening of the 2011 Regular Session.
WHEREAS, according to a recent study by the PEW Center on the States, Louisiana
has the highest incarceration rate in the United States; and
WHEREAS, many criminal penalties in Louisiana provide for mandatory terms of
imprisonment and do not allow for the suspension of sentence, probation, parole, or
diminution of sentence for good behavior; and
WHEREAS, because of the high incarceration rate in Louisiana, many inmates who
are sentenced to the department are housed in local jails and private correctional facilities;
and
WHEREAS, all correctional facilities in the state offer canteen services to inmates;
and
WHEREAS, some inmates have very little income and are not in a position to avoid
or object to prices which may be inflated or exceed retail value; and
WHEREAS, there are inconsistencies with the pricing of items offered at various
correctional facilities; and
WHEREAS, there should be uniformity in the prices of commodities offered to
inmates incarcerated in this state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
authorize and request the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to conduct a
statewide evaluation of the commodities offered through canteen services, to study the ENROLLEDHCR NO. 178
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feasibility of developing uniform prices for all commodities offered to inmates, and to report
its findings prior to the convening of the 2011 Regular Session.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Safety and
Corrections, in conducting the study, is hereby requested to work with the Louisiana
Sheriffs' Association, the office of the attorney general, and any other agencies or entities
which the department deems appropriate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE