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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 78
BY REPRESENTATIVES JEFFERSON AND GAROFALO
A RESOLUTION
To direct the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to study the feasibility and make
recommendations relative to the expansion of the workforce development sentencing
program to include additional judicial district reentry courts.
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections workforce
development sentencing program was created pursuant to Act No. 399 of the 2012 Regular
Session of the Legislature; and
WHEREAS, the program requires the department in conjunction with the reentry
division of district courts to identify eligible candidates who are suitable for the workforce
development sentencing program and to assist the offenders in becoming more productive
members of society upon their return to the community, thereby reducing recidivism and
improving public safety; and
WHEREAS, since the enactment of Act No. 399 of the 2012 Regular Session of the
Legislature, there are currently four judicial district courts that are authorized to assign a
certain division of the court as a reentry division of court, the Nineteenth Judicial District
Court, the Twenty-Second Judicial District Court, the Eleventh Judicial District Court, and
the Criminal District Court for the parish of Orleans; however, several judicial district courts
have expressed their interest in expanding the workforce development sentencing program
to their districts; and
WHEREAS, the program is conducted at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, where
there are currently one hundred twenty slots available for offenders, of which one hundred
nine are filled; and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that by the end of 2014, there will be an additional
fourteen slots that will become available in increments as offenders graduate from the
program throughout the year; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 78
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WHEREAS, there are multiple judicial districts that have expressed an interest in
participating in the program; however, due to the limited availability for housing the
offenders at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, those judicial districts are restricted from
creating reentry courts and providing the opportunity to offer rehabilitation to offenders in
their districts.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby direct the Department of Public Safety and Corrections
to study the feasibility and make recommendations relative to the expansion of the
workforce development sentencing program to include additional judicial district reentry
courts.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Safety and Corrections
make a written report to the House Committee on Judiciary detailing their findings no later
than January 1, 2015.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES