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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 149
BY SENATOR CROWE AND REPRESENTATI VE DIXON
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations and the House
Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations to meet and function as a joint
committee to study the impact of job training and education as a means of reducing
the rate of recidivism for inmates who are leaving the prison system after being
paroled or after having completed a court-ordered sentence.
WHEREAS, studies have shown that Louisiana has the largest per capita number of
incarcerated persons in the world; and
WHEREAS, state taxpayers spend an average of $626,600,000 annually, on housing,
feeding, clothing and providing medical care for prisoners in the state's prison system; and
WHEREAS, reducing the rate of recidivism would make available much needed state
funds which could be spent on education, infrastructure and other important state services
and projects; and
WHEREAS, studies have shown that job training and education greatly reduce the
rate of recidivism of incarcerated individuals; and
WHEREAS, the successful completion of a job training pre-release program and
educational reentry program by an inmate greatly increases the ability of the inmate to obtain
a favorable decision from the board of parole; and
WHEREAS, computer aided, distance learning provided by Louisiana colleges and
universities have had a positive role in the education of Louisiana residents; and
WHEREAS, a study of the practicality of using computer aided, distance learning
as a method of educating the prison population may provide a useful tool to reduce
recidivism; and SCR NO. 149 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, faith-based organizations have an important role to play in the education
and job training of inmates as well as the job placement and success of inmates when they
are reintroduced to society.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby urges
and requests the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations and the House
Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations to meet and function as a joint committee to
study the impact of job training and education as a means of reducing the rate of recidivism
for inmates who are leaving the prison system after being paroled or after having completed
a court-ordered sentence.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall make a written report of its
findings to the legislature on or before February 1, 2013, together with any specific
proposals for legislation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the secretary of the
Department of Public Safety and Corrections, corrections services.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES