Nation’s ‘Most Incarcerated State’ Chooses a New Path

Louisiana has the highest imprisonment rate in the nation, but that is expected to change as a result of comprehensive sentencing and corrections reform legislation signed into law this summer. Through a bipartisan effort, state leaders adopted a package of innovative, evidence-based approaches to reducing recidivism and incarceration, such as steering less serious offenders away from prison, strengthening alternatives to prison and jail, and removing barriers to success during re-entry into society.

Join Governor John Bel Edwards (D) and a panel of state leaders as they discuss how Louisiana became the latest state to enact comprehensive criminal justice reforms. Many other states have experienced simultaneous drops in crime and imprisonment after implementing similar policies.

I am not proud of our title as the most incarcerated state. But that’s going to be part of our history rather than our future.—Governor John Bel Edwards, June 15, 2017

Who?

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards

Natalie LaBorde, deputy assistant secretary, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections

Louisiana State Representative Tanner Magee

Craig Webre, sheriff, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana

Terry Schuster, officer, public safety performance project, The Pew Charitable Trusts (moderator)

Jake Horowitz, director, public safety performance project, The Pew Charitable Trusts (introductory remarks)

When?

Tuesday, Nov. 28, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. EST

Where?

Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G-11, Washington

The event will be streamed live from this page.

Join the conversation on Twitter: #CJReform