Louisiana Justice: Pre-Trial, Incarceration, and Reentry

Abstract

This paper provides a high-level system overview of Louisiana’s justice system from pretrial to incarceration to re-entry and includes new data and insights from local advocates. Data included provides the most recent snapshot of Louisiana’s prison population and the first close look at the impact of multi billing, or “habitual offender sentencing,” including significant disparities of the use of the multi bill in Louisiana. An introductory letter highlights two significant issues that have not previously been studied or analyzed: multi-bill sentences and local housing of the state’s prison populations. 

Together with an companion report, “Opportunities for Philanthropy within Louisiana’s Justice System,” these reports combine on-the-ground perspectives from advocates across the state identifying the most significant challenges and opportunities for improving public safety with new data and analysis on the impact of incarceration statewide. Though Louisiana has made significant progress in reducing the state prison population, these reports are critical for understanding the local practices that drive our high rates of incarceration.

Keywords: Louisiana, criminal law, mass incarceration