The Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Package, passed by the Louisiana Legislature, works to reduce prison populations in the state and invest in programs and policies proven to reduce recidivism. By supporting people in prison and people under community supervision through these incentives, we are able to decrease recidivism and prevent crime, leading to safer prisons and communities.
The Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Task Force, a bipartisan group comprised of law enforcement, court practitioners, community members, and legislators, found that Louisiana’s corrections system was producing low public safety returns at high costs. We’re working to change that.
decrease in the number of people in prison is the overall goal over the next decade, saving $262 million.
of savings (an estimated $184 million) will be reinvested into programs and policies proven to reduce recidivism and support victims of crime.
reduction in the number of people under community supervision with more manageable caseload sizes for probation and parole officers.
Participant A was serving a life sentence as a multiple offender for crimes committed in his youth and became parole-eligible as a result of Louisiana’s 2017 criminal justice reforms.
Equipped with a master Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification, a power generation technology certification, and a host of self-development and recovery programs, Participant A left prison focused, introspective and mature, a man whose goal is to heal the relationship with his daughters and be the father they need him to be.
As a Louisiana Parole Project client, Participant A credits the organization as being a difference-maker for being granted parole. “I don’t believe I would be here, have this opportunity for a second chance if Parole Project wouldn’t have supported me,” he said. “I did not have a solid place to go, particularly one that offered the kind of support, services, housing and programming that Parole Project does.”
But it was his work and preparation for life beyond prison that has allowed him to flourish since his release. The master ASE certification and his work as an automotive technology tutor while incarcerated, led to an employment opportunity. Soon after completing the intensive reintegration phase of the Parole Project’s programming, Participant A began a job at a car dealership as an automotive technician. Working all the extra hours he could and at the dealership, Participant A was able to purchase a car and, with it, a feeling of accomplishment. He continues to learn, currently taking online classes to earn a General Motors automotive certification that will allow him to advance. All of it, he admits, has improved his confidence and self-image. “I appreciate every day now,” he said. “Especially the simple things, the small things, something I never did before.”
Participant B’s story is one of determination, and of people coming together to provide support. Participant B was referred to Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana in June 2019 for participation in Goodwill’s Reentry supportive services. When he was released in August 2019, he connected immediately with his parole officer and his Goodwill Re-entry Case Manager.
His Goodwill Reentry case manager connected him to the Goodwill job development team, which helped him secure employment with a garbage collection service. Within a week of his release from prison, he began working 40 hours/week at $9.00/hour, including available overtime. His Goodwill Reentry case manager helped Participant B purchase work boots and uniforms for his job so he could start immediately.
Additionally, with the program’s support, Participant B was able to open up a bank account for his incoming paychecks, move out of temporary housing at his sister’s, and secure permanent housing with his girlfriend. He’s received a raise from $9.00 hourly to $12.00 hourly, and at the closing of his annual evaluation with the company, the garbage collection service will bring him on full-time, where he will receive full benefits and another raise. Participant B’s story is one of determination, and of people coming together to provide support. Participant B was referred to Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana in June 2019 for participation in Goodwill’s Reentry supportive services. When he was released in August 2019, he connected immediately with his parole officer and his Goodwill Re-entry Case Manager.
His Goodwill Reentry case manager connected him to the Goodwill job development team, which helped him secure employment with a garbage collection service. Within a week of his release from prison, he began working 40 hours/week at $9.00/hour, including available overtime. His Goodwill Reentry case manager helped Participant B purchase work boots and uniforms for his job so he could start immediately.
Additionally, with the program’s support, Participant B was able to open up a bank account for his incoming paychecks, move out of temporary housing at his sister’s, and secure permanent housing with his girlfriend. He’s received a raise from $9.00 hourly to $12.00 hourly, and at the closing of his annual evaluation with the company, the garbage collection service will bring him on full-time, where he will receive full benefits, and another raise.
Upon his release from prison in July 2019, Participant C needed a job. His Goodwill Reentry case manager helped him secure employment within a few short weeks with Thrones to Go, LLC. As of April 2020, he is still working with Thrones to Go, and despite the global pandemic, remains at 40 hours weekly with overtime options. With his case manager’s support of navigating through decision making, Participant C learned coping skills and was able to rebuild his life one step at a time, beginning with reconnecting with his wife of 15 years, and their three children. He is able to financially care for his family and contribute greatly to the household. Participant C’s annual evaluation is nearing and if all goes well, he will go from making $14 hourly to $18 hourly with overtime available.
Before the EXIT-318 program, Participant D worked odd jobs here and there. Sometimes, he would go weeks without work. Once he was released from Caddo Correctional Center, he began working full-time for Dandy’s Products. The United Way of Northwest Louisiana’s network of support helped Participant D get his driver’s license upon his release. This has been crucial – he has a reliable means of transportation to and from work. Participant D is hoping to save up enough to buy a new truck and a house in the future.
Another worthy success was the result of a collaboration between ATI social worker MK and Reentry Paralegal Grace. MK had a client who had been in the hospital for nearly a year. One of the main case goals was to obtain a state ID. With an unsupportive family unwilling to help their aging and struggling family member, MK was sure she would not be able to obtain a birth certificate or social security card necessary to get an ID. Grace stepped in, communicated with the client at the hospital, and in under two weeks, Grace navigated the complicated process of obtaining a copy of the client’s birth certificate. This client had not had a Louisiana ID since well before Katrina, and now does. This opened the door to countless more services he desperately needed.
In another case, a Justice Accountability Center (JAC) attorney cleared over $17,000 in traffic court debts from one Orleans client, Client C, who had 22 cases and 17 attachments. We got their reinstatement letter from the court and took them to the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) where we were able to get their PDL issued and reduced their administrative debts to $900 after all traffic issues were closed. When their case was closed they were working and applying for higher-paying jobs that required their driver’s license. Now, with their PDL, they are qualified for those positions. They last had a pending job interview with the City of New Orleans.
Client C had previously returned from incarceration and was on supervision when he was rearrested for outstanding warrants during a traffic stop. He had previously struggled with technical violations because of his traffic issues. The Justice Accountability Center (JAC) cleared nearly $9,000 in debt on seven cases, all of which had attachments. We also worked on getting Client C reunited with their family living in Section 8 housing while he was looking for work and saving money for driving school and an apartment of his own. Because of his experiences, Client C advocated about the impact of court debts on recidivism, rearrest, and technical violations at a public hearing in Baton Rouge, in order to encourage Louisiana to move away from a user-pay court system. Because of the services provided to Client C by the CIG program, he is in a position to “pay it forward” and work to prevent these barriers from serving as obstacles to other formerly incarcerated people.
As a part of the Justice Reinvestment (JRI) Legislation of 2017, a portion of the savings attributable to criminal justice reform have been allocated to the DPS&C to award incentive grants to community organizations. These programs and policies help achieve reduced prison admissions, reduced return or recidivism, improved community coordination of reentry resources.
Examples include the Community Incentive Grant (CIG) program and the Emergency and Transitional Housing (ETH) program.
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