Proposed Louisiana bill would eliminate parole opportunity for most convicted in the future
Source: Associated Press
Proposed Louisiana bill would eliminate parole opportunity for most convicted in the future
BY SARA CLINE
Updated 8:55 PM EST, February 21, 2024
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Lawmakers in Louisiana — a state that routinely has one of the highest incarceration rates in the country — are considering a bill that would eliminate the chance of parole for nearly all prisoners convicted after Aug. 1.
The legislation is one piece of the GOP-dominated Legislature’s conservative list of bills that are being discussed during a special session, in an effort to tamp down violent crime in the state. The tough-on-crime policies, which Democrats argue do not address the root of the issue, could overhaul parts of the Louisiana’s criminal justice system and public safety sector.
Among Republican priorities are toughening parole eligibility, in an effort to address recidivism rates and slow the “revolving door” of offenders who are released from jail only to return after committing another crime. The proposed sweeping legislative changes could determine how long certain incarcerated people remain in prison and when or if they would be allowed a second chance at freedom.
Among the proposals is a bill that would effectively eliminate parole for those convicted after Aug. 1, with few exceptions — including groups for whom it is constitutionally required, such as those who were sentenced to life terms as juveniles.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-parole-crime-bill-2a7008b06d2a939a0feb9d84a164eef6
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