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2020 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 14
BY REPRESENTATIVE MOORE
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the Louisiana
Department of Health, and the Louisiana Department 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 Regular Session of the Legislature.
WHEREAS, with high incarceration and recidivism rates 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 and that those entities tasked with providing those services
have a complete understanding of the critical links to successful reintegration and the current
barriers incarcerated persons face upon their release back into society.
THEREFORE, the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the
Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the Louisiana Department of Health, and the
Louisiana Department of Education to work collaboratively to identify the solutions and
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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 Regular Session of the Legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as part of this work, the departments are urged
to work together to better understand the critical links to successful reintegration of
incarcerated persons back into society, including but not limited to transportation, family
support, employment, mental health, substance abuse treatment, housing, community apathy,
and education.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the departments are urged and requested to
obtain and share data and information necessary to complete this work and to request
necessary data and information from the relevant agencies and departments with oversight
of each of the critical links to successful reintegration.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the information and data collected from each
agency or department and reported to the legislature shall include but is not limited to the
number of persons in any programs administered by the agency or department to service
persons who are incarcerated, under supervision, or who are released from incarceration or
supervision; the education level of such persons; the age, race, and gender of the persons;
the parish where the person was incarcerated or under supervision; the number and type of
mental health diagnoses faced by persons participating in the programs; the number of
persons with substance abuse disorders or with co-occurring mental illness and substance
abuse disorders; the cost of services per individual; the duration of services; and any follow-
up or aftercare services provided by the agency or department.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report shall include the current recidivism
rate and the number of persons who recidivate based upon a technical violation of their
probation or parole conditions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the agencies and departments providing
information and data pursuant to this Resolution are directed to provide any requested
information on the barriers that prevent the agency or department from achieving desired
outcomes with respect to successful rehabilitation and decreased recidivism, as well as
information and data on the cost or fiscal impact of implementing the necessary services and
programs in this regard.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the departments may seek input and support
from any entities or organizations, including community-based resources, that they deem
appropriate and necessary for their work including but not limited to the Louisiana District
Attorneys Association, the Louisiana Public Defender Board, the Louisiana Sheriffs'
Association, and the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the secretaries of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and the Louisiana
Department of Health and the state superintendent of education.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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