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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 146
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEGER
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To direct the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to conduct a comprehensive
statewide review of factors affecting the state's incarceration and recidivism rates,
including parish-level data, and to provide a report of its findings prior to the
convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, according to a study by the Pew Center on the States and the Bureau of
Justice Statistics published by the United States Department of Justice, Louisiana has the
highest incarceration rate in the nation; and
WHEREAS, with this high incarceration rate comes a high monetary cost that is
borne by the taxpayers in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is to
enhance public safety through the safe and secure incarceration of offenders, effective
probation and parole supervision, and proven rehabilitative strategies that successfully
reintegrate offenders into society; and
WHEREAS, successful offender rehabilitation and reintegration into the community
is essential to reducing recidivism rates which has a direct impact on public safety, crime
prevention, and the cost of state and local criminal justice systems; and
WHEREAS, to this end, it is imperative that the financial resources of this state be
used to support the implementation of the most successful and effective rehabilitative and
reentry programs for offenders as proven by data collected specifically for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, a growing number of states have successfully implemented criminal
justice reforms designed to improve public safety, hold offenders accountable, and protect
taxpayer dollars. ENROLLEDHCR NO. 146
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, to better understand the potential needs and
opportunities for reform in Louisiana, the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby direct the
Department of Public Safety and Corrections to conduct a comprehensive statewide review
of factors affecting the state's incarceration and recidivism rates, including parish-level data.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting this review, the department shall
do all of the following:
(1) Evaluate the availability and efficacy of alternatives to incarceration across
various parishes and the utilization rates of such alternatives among various parishes.
(2) Identify the extent to which actuarial, validated risk and needs assessments are
being used to inform sentencing, revocation, and release decisions and the extent to which
best practices such as swift, certain, and graduated sanctions and incentives are being used
to promote compliance with supervision and intervention services.
(3) Examine the cost of services currently being utilized and the sources of revenues
for those services, including but not limited to state funds.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, based upon this review, the department shall
prepare a report that includes the following information:
(1) Evaluation of each parish's performance in supporting the department's strategic
goals of preventing and diverting more individuals from entering the criminal justice system,
providing appropriate and less restrictive community-based sanctions and services, reserving
serious sanctions for individuals who pose the greatest risk to public safety, and focusing on
data-driven responses and evidence-based practices.
(2) Identification of additional community resources and policy changes at the state
and local levels that would be needed to reduce incarceration and recidivism while
enhancing public safety, including options for modifying the state's funding streams for
parish jails to better align fiscal incentives with these strategic goals.
(3) Recommendations and strategies that can be implemented by the department in
partnership with local jurisdictions, including public, private, and nonprofit entities, to
address any identified deficiencies and to assist in developing a statewide, coordinated
response across all of Louisiana's communities to support the department's strategic goals.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department is encouraged to seek outside
consultation to explore operating models and community corrections practices, including ENROLLEDHCR NO. 146
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those from other states, that are successfully applying the principles of justice reinvestment
to accomplish the creation of effective community-based correctional interventions in local
jurisdictions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department may seek input from or utilize
any reports prepared by the Louisiana District Attorney Association, the Louisiana Sheriffs'
Association, the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Louisiana Public
Defender Board, the Louisiana Sentencing Commission, or any other entity or organization
deemed appropriate by the department.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department may seek assistance from staff
of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice
in conducting this review.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this report shall be submitted to the
governor, the president of the Senate, and the speaker of the House of Representatives prior
to the convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE