Building Better Lives

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.

Reinvesting in Louisiana Justice

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.

  • 10%

    decrease in the number of people in prison is the overall goal over the next decade, saving $262 million.

  • 70%

    of savings (an estimated $184 million) will be reinvested into programs and policies proven to reduce recidivism and support victims of crime.

  • 12%

    reduction in the number of people under community supervision with more manageable caseload sizes for probation and parole officers.

JRI Community Investments Overview

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 that can deliver programs and policies that will achieve the following goals:

  1. Reduce prison admissions by expanding alternatives to prison such as pretrial intervention and/or diversion programs;
  2. Reduce returns to prison by improving and expanding community reentry resources such as: employment and employment readiness, transportation, behavioral health care (mental health and substance use treatment), family reunification, education and/or vocational training, mentoring and peer support, and other wraparound services; and
  3. Improve community coordination of reentry resources, such as helping people access existing direct services or programs or developing a comprehensive community strategy for collaboration among multiple entities (government, non-profit, private, community group, public organizations, etc.) to enhance continuity of services provided.

The savings have been allocated via two main DPS&C programs: the Community Incentive Grant (CIG) program and the Emergency and Transitional Housing (ETH) program. Learn more about these programs below.

Learn more about JRI Community Investments

Click on the links

Policy Documentation

Click a card to download

Looking for more information?

We are happy to answer all questions in accordance with our public information policies. Please click the button below to see those policies and submit your request.

Public Info Inquiries