Reform in the Most Incarcerated State

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In this episode

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 Pew Research

Louisiana Adopts Landmark Criminal Justice Reforms

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

Pew Applauds Louisiana Leaders for Comprehensive Sentencing and Corrections Reforms

Episode transcript (PDF)