Louisiana overhauled its prison system. Now Republicans may undo changes.
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Six years after reforming its criminal justice system, Louisiana is no longer the nation’s most incarcerated state. Thousands of nonviolent offenders have been given a second chance. And the state has saved more than $100 million, a windfall for scores of community groups.
The reforms, championed by former Democratic governor John Bel Edwards, shortened some prison sentences, recalculated who was eligible for parole, weakened drug laws and made it harder to send someone back to prison for violating parole or probation.
But the Bayou State’s landmark prison reforms may soon be scaled back as newly elected Republican Gov. Jeff Landry pushes a special session that started Monday to tackle violent crime, which today is higher than before the ambitious plan went into effect.
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