ENROLLED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 194
BY REPRESENTATIVES VILLIO, FONTENOT, GAROFALO, GOUDEAU, HORTON,
KNOX, LAFLEUR, AND CHARLES OWEN
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice, or a
subcommittee thereof, to study sentencing transparency and sentence calculations
and to submit a report with recommendations for legislation to the Louisiana House
of Representatives no later than March 1, 2024.
WHEREAS, sentences for crimes committed in violation of Louisiana law should
be clear and readily ascertainable to both victims, offenders, and the public; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana law affords an individual opportunities to reduce the time he
serves in prison, including through calculations of "good time;" and
WHEREAS, calculations for these sentence reductions are not located in one
centralized location or database, leaving victims and offenders unable to understand the
length of the prison sentence; and
WHEREAS, the sentence delivered in open court frequently does not reflect the
amount of time the offender will actually serve, causing confusion as to how much time the
individual should remain in prison; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana House of Representatives strives to ensure clarity and
transparency in the law and in the criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, further study is needed to improve sentencing transparency and to better
protect public safety; and
WHEREAS, further public discussion is needed outside of the legislative session to
ensure members of the public are able to fully ascertain the term of imprisonment at the time
of sentencing without any misconceptions.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the House Committee on
Administration of Criminal Justice, or a subcommittee thereof, to study sentencing
transparency and sentence calculations and to submit a report with recommendations for
legislation to the Louisiana House of Representatives no later than March 1, 2024.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House Committee on Administration of
Criminal Justice shall receive input and information from the following organizations:
(1) The Louisiana District Judges Association.
(2) The Louisiana District Attorneys Association.
(3) The Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
(4) The Louisiana Sheriffs' Association.
(5) The Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
(6) Any other interested stakeholders.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that one print copy and one electronic copy of any
report produced pursuant to this Resolution shall be submitted to the David R. Poynter
Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:772.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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