ACLU of Louisiana hosts symposium to address mass incarceration, criminal justice reform

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The ACLU of Louisiana held a symposium at Southern College Friday, April 14, to handle felony justice reform and public security.

Louisiana has the nation’s highest incarceration price, in keeping with Government Director Alanah Odoms. Odoms says regardless of historic reforms applied as a part of the 2017 Justice Reinvestment Bundle, extra work have to be carried out.

“We’ve been caught in a zombie dance of, who commits crime, and the way lengthy they need to service in jail, and that doesn’t get us to a spot the place we’re truly safer,” Odoms mentioned.

The panel dialogue on the Southern College Regulation Middle targeted on the other ways to resolve mass incarceration, whereas additionally defending the general public.

“We all know that there was a rise in crime, and we’re not shying away from that, however what we wish individuals to know, is that there’s a approach we are able to enhance public security, with out having to resort to criminalization and mass incarceration,” mentioned Stephanie Willis, ACLU of Louisiana coverage strategist.

Advocates are leaning on lawmakers to provide you with extra legal guidelines to assist scale back our jail inhabitants throughout this legislative session.

One factor Odoms is pushing for the state to alter is the necessary minimal quantity of jail time hooked up to sure crimes.

She believes this might have a drastic affect.

“I’d prefer to see a coverage applied that eliminates the quantity of offenses that necessary minimums are eligible for. I wish to give a few of that discretion again to the judges to have the ability to make choices primarily based on all the information and circumstances which are introduced to them,” mentioned Odoms.

Odoms says they are going to proceed to marketing campaign throughout the state till they will achieve the help they want.

“We perceive by insurance policies we get there, so it’s a step-by-step course of, and I don’t assume we are able to ever sit again,” mentioned Willis.

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