Nation’s ‘Most Incarcerated State’ Chooses a New Path

Governor John Bel Edwards offers insights on landmark criminal justice reforms in Louisiana

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Nation’s ‘Most Incarcerated State’ Chooses a New Path

Louisiana has the highest imprisonment rate in the nation, but that is expected to change as a result of comprehensive sentencing and corrections reform legislation signed into law this summer. Through a bipartisan effort, state leaders adopted a package of innovative, evidence-based approaches to reducing recidivism and incarceration, such as steering less serious offenders away from prison, strengthening alternatives to prison and jail, and removing barriers to success during re-entry into society.

Join Governor John Bel Edwards (D) and a panel of state leaders as they discuss how Louisiana became the latest state to enact comprehensive criminal justice reforms. Many other states have experienced simultaneous drops in crime and imprisonment after implementing similar policies.

I am not proud of our title as the most incarcerated state. But that’s going to be part of our history rather than our future.—Governor John Bel Edwards, June 15, 2017

Who?

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards

Natalie LaBorde, deputy assistant secretary, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections

Louisiana State Representative Tanner Magee

Craig Webre, sheriff, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana

Terry Schuster, officer, public safety performance project, The Pew Charitable Trusts (moderator)

Jake Horowitz, director, public safety performance project, The Pew Charitable Trusts (introductory remarks)

When?

Tuesday, Nov. 28, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. EST

Where?

Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G-11, Washington

The event will be streamed live from this page.

Join the conversation on Twitter: #CJReform

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G-11
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Louisiana corrections reform
Louisiana corrections reform
Podcast September 15, 2017

Louisiana has the highest imprisonment rate in the U.S., but that may change as a result of comprehensive criminal justice reform passed this summer.
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Louisiana corrections reform
Podcast September 15, 2017

Louisiana has the highest imprisonment rate in the U.S., but that may change as a result of comprehensive criminal justice reform passed this summer. Through a tremendous bipartisan effort, state leaders passed a package of bills that aims to reduce crime and incarceration through innovative, evidence-based means. That includes steering less serious offenders away from prison, strengthening alternatives to incarceration, and removing barriers to success during re-entry to society. Terry Schuster of Pew's public safety performance project speaks with host Dan LeDuc about why this change was important and what its impact could be. For more information on public safety, listen to the episode “Less Incarceration, Less Crime” to find out what two leaders in South Carolina did to slow prison growth and make communities safer.

Related Resources

Analysis: Louisiana Adopts Landmark Criminal Justice Reforms Fact sheet: ‘Most Incarcerated State’ Chooses a New Path
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