ENROLLED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 135
BY REPRESENTATIVE MACK
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To create and establish the Louisiana Probation, Parole, and Correctional Officer
Compensation Study Commission to study and examine the feasability of providing
a salary increase for Louisiana probation, parole, and correctional officers and to
report its findings to the governor and the Louisiana Legislature by February 1, 2017.
WHEREAS, one of the primary goals of the Louisiana criminal justice system is to
safely reduce recidivism by helping and encouraging each offender through the process of
reintegrating into society; and
WHEREAS, each probation, parole, and correctional officer plays a vital role in the
success of an offender's reentry into his community; and
WHEREAS, it is the mission of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections,
corrections services, to enhance public safety through the safe and secure incarceration of
offenders and effective probation and parole supervision; and
WHEREAS, correctional officers of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections
provide for the safety of staff and offenders by maintaining an organized and disciplined
system of operations which enhance the stability of all programs provided by the
department; and
WHEREAS, correctional officers also promote moral rehabilitation through
encouraging program participation and providing an environment for offenders that enables
positive behavior change; and
WHEREAS, the division of probation and parole of the Department of Public Safety
and Corrections functions as a community services division and is comprised of twenty
district offices located throughout the state and its headquarters located in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana; and
Page 1 of 3 HCR NO. 135 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, probation and parole officers are P.O.S.T.-certified officers who
supervise adult offenders who are released to the community on probation, parole,
diminution of sentence, home incarceration, medical furlough, or supervised release and
those offenders who relocate to Louisiana from other states; and
WHEREAS, probation and parole officers ensure that offenders comply with the
conditions of supervision, identify problems and solutions, make appropriate referrals,
provide general counseling, and perform arrests as needed to protect public safety; and
WHEREAS, helping to ensure the successful reentry of these offenders, probation
and parole officers visit offenders in their homes, in their workplaces, or at other locations
in the community; and
WHEREAS, in addition, probation and parole officers provide investigative services
to decision makers in the criminal justice system, including judges, the Board of Pardons and
committee on parole, and the governor's office, and oversee the collection of victim
restitution, supervision fees, and a variety of criminal justice fees.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
create and establish the Louisiana Probation, Parole, and Correctional Officer Compensation
Study Commission to study and examine the feasability of providing a salary increase for
Louisiana probation, parole, and correctional officers who play a vital role in achieving
Louisiana's goals of reducing recidivism and successfully reintegrating offenders into
society.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall be comprised of the
following members:
(1) The chairman of the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice or
his designee.
(2) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary B or his designee.
(3) The chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations or his designee.
(4) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance or his designee.
(5) The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or his
designee.
(6) The director of state civil service or his designee.
Page 2 of 3 HCR NO. 135 ENROLLED
(7) The director of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, division of
probation and parole or his designee.
(8) The president of the Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police or his designee.
(9) The executive director of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association or his designee.
(10) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police or his
designee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the commission shall serve
without compensation and vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointments.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall meet as necessary and is
authorized to request data, staff, and technical or administrative assistance from those
entities that comprise the membership of the commission.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall submit a written report of
its findings to the governor and the Louisiana Legislature by February 1, 2017.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall be abolished upon
submission of the report.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the appointing entities named in this Resolution.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 3 of 3