HLS 20RS-681 ENGROSSED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 14
BY REPRESENTATIVE MOORE
CRIMINAL/JUSTICE: Directs the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the
Louisiana Department of Health, and the Louisiana Department of Education to
study the barriers that impede successful reintegration of offenders back into society
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To authorize and direct the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the Louisiana
3 Department of Health, and the Louisiana Department of Education to work
4 collaboratively to identify the solutions and resources necessary to fully address the
5 barriers that impede the successful reintegration of incarcerated persons back into
6 society and to provide a report of its findings to the legislature prior to the convening
7 of the 2021 Regular Session of the Legislature.
8 WHEREAS, with high incarceration and recidivism rates comes a high monetary cost
9that is borne by the taxpayers in Louisiana; and
10 WHEREAS, the mission of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is to
11enhance public safety through the safe and secure incarceration of offenders, effective
12probation and parole supervision, and proven rehabilitative strategies that successfully
13reintegrate offenders into society; and
14 WHEREAS, successful offender rehabilitation and reintegration into the community
15is essential to reducing recidivism rates which has a direct impact on public safety, crime
16prevention, and the cost of state and local criminal justice systems; and
17 WHEREAS, to this end, it is imperative that the financial resources of this state be
18used to support the implementation of the most successful and effective rehabilitative and
19reentry programs for offenders and that those entities tasked with providing those services
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HCR NO. 14
1have a complete understanding of the critical links to successful reintegration and the current
2barriers incarcerated persons face upon their release back into society.
3 THEREFORE, the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby authorize and direct the
4Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the Louisiana Department of Health, and the
5Louisiana Department of Education to work collaboratively to identify the solutions and
6resources necessary to fully address the barriers that impede the successful reintegration of
7incarcerated persons back into society and to provide a report of its findings to the legislature
8prior to the convening of the 2021 Regular Session of the Legislature.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as part of this work, the departments are directed
10to work together to better understand the critical links to successful reintegration of
11incarcerated persons back into society, including but not limited to transportation, family
12support, employment, mental health, substance abuse treatment, housing, community apathy,
13and education.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the departments are authorized and directed to
15obtain and share data and information necessary to complete this work and to request
16necessary data and information from the relevant agencies and departments with oversight
17of each of the critical links to successful reintegration.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the information and data collected from each
19agency or department and reported to the legislature shall include but is not limited to the
20number of persons in any programs administered by the agency or department to service
21persons who are incarcerated, under supervision, or who are released from incarceration or
22supervision; the education level of such persons; the age, race, and gender of the persons;
23the parish where the person was incarcerated or under supervision; the number and type of
24mental health diagnoses faced by persons participating in the programs; the number of
25persons with substance abuse disorders or with co-occurring mental illness and substance
26abuse disorders; the cost of services per individual; the duration of services; and any follow-
27up or aftercare services provided by the agency or department.
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report shall include the current recidivism
29rate and the number of persons who recidivate based upon a technical violation of their
30probation or parole conditions.
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HCR NO. 14
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the agencies and departments providing
2information and data pursuant to this Resolution are directed to provide information on the
3barriers that prevent the agency or department from achieving desired outcomes with respect
4to successful rehabilitation and decreased recidivism, as well as information and data on the
5cost or fiscal impact of implementing the necessary services and programs in this regard.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the departments may seek input and support
7from any entities or organizations, including community-based resources, that they deem
8appropriate and necessary for their work including but not limited to the Louisiana District
9Attorneys Association, the Louisiana Public Defender Board, the Louisiana Sheriffs'
10Association, and the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
12to the secretaries of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and the Louisiana
13Department of Health and the state superintendent of education.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 14 Engrossed 2020 Regular Session Moore
Directs the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, the La. Dept. of Health, and the La. Dept.
of Education to work collaboratively to identify the solutions and resources necessary to
fully address the barriers that impede the successful reintegration of incarcerated persons
back into society and to provide a report of its findings to the legislature prior to the
convening of the 2021 R.S.
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