Recent editorials from Louisiana newspapers:
May 19
The Advocate, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on prison reform:
For the first time in years, Louisiana’s prison population decreased last year.
A drop of about 3,000 state inmates since 2012 has been one of the few bright spots in budget deliberations at the State Capitol, because feeding and housing prisoners is costly.
The state projects an inmate population of 38,000 in the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Department of Corrections officials ascribed the improvement not to fewer people entering prison but fewer returning after they leave. That is perhaps in part because of a better job market over the past few years, because a steady job is one of the best guarantees against returning to a life of crime. Efforts by the department and some local sheriffs to stress literacy and job training while in jail have been constructive.
Still, Louisiana has a long way to go, as our state continues to be the leader in the percentage of its people behind bars, in state and local prisons.
Other Southern states have seen significant changes to their criminal justice systems, including a new proposal in Alabama to cut the state’s prison population by about 4,500 over the next five years. Sentences for some nonviolent crimes would be shortened, and more parole supervisors would be hired to help keep released inmates from returning.
Even conservative states - South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi included - are seeking a more sensible approach to crime and punishment. The sheer costs of imprisonment are a factor that cannot be overlooked.
This is not a classical liberal versus conservative fight, but rather one that requires reassessment of long-standing legal and financial arrangements by government institutions - courts, sheriffs and police agencies, prison administrators at the state and local level.
That this cause is championed not only by liberal organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union but also the conservatives of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy speaks to the broad coalition pushing reforms in Louisiana.
Released inmates should be working, contributing to society instead of costing taxpayers money. Mayor Mitch Landrieu, of New Orleans, has pushed for reforms, as have business groups such as the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
In a short session dominated by fiscal concerns, we may not see this year the kind of changes that have earned praise in other Southern states, but the stage is certainly set for improvements next year. A new governor and Legislature should not miss the opportunity to save money for the taxpayer, even if, as in Alabama, more money must be spent in the short term on probation and parole.
Online:
https://theadvocate.com
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May 17
American Press, Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Common Core:
When it came to the battle over Common Core, it is good to see common sense prevailed.
The much-fought-over standards of education inflamed people on both sides of the issue.
There was a lot of misinformation floated by just about everybody, as politics took over in the classroom.
Wednesday it appears the battling parties found common ground.
The House Education Committee reported House Bill 373 favorably without objection. The bill was originally designed to implement state content standards for public school students with legislative approval, and was also battled over.
After two days of negotiations it was finally amended.
Rep. Brett Geymann, R-Moss Bluff, who sits at the epicenter of the fight, said the goal of the legislation is to correct all or most of what’s wrong with Common Core.
The debate will rage on whether the standards and tests that go with Common Core are good or bad. Testing has always been a way to evaluate an educational style, so no doubt some form of that will remain for Louisiana students.
Other states have done similar things, most notably Indiana, which came up with its own standards that closely resembled Common Core but with some of its own twists.
While the compromise is nothing new, it is nice to see that our state leaders put aside their differences long enough to come up with some solutions to the problem.
This returns the concerns to our students, who should really be the only consideration. Giving them the best chance at a good education is all that matters.
We understand that in the world of politics there will be winners and losers, but a good compromise comes when both sides find good coming out of the solutions.
In many ways it is what has made our government work for so long. Debate has often led to compromise on all subjects.
It is, however, unfortunate this issue has been so ugly over the past two years. Now maybe we can move on.
The American Press has been constant in hoping that both sides would come together and find a system that is best for our state’s kids and future.
We see this compromise as a good start to that process.
What state officials really need to do now is find a way to raise the level of education we offer to each student in Louisiana no matter where they live or what their economic standing might be.
It is of the utmost importance that the next generation of Louisianians learn skills that will not only compete in the every changing world market but also thrive. We owe our children that much.
We think we can all agree on that.
So we tip our cap to the politicians as they take the first big step forward in this process. We hope this is a sign that they will continue to find ways to make our educational system the best it can be and not let bickering and politics get in the way of our children’s futures.
Online:
https://www.americanpress.com
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May 20
Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Louisiana, on marijuana possession:
Louisiana’s harsh approach to marijuana possession is destructive for families and costly for the state. Under current law, someone caught with a small amount of marijuana for a second time faces up to five years in prison. On third offense, the sentence can be up to 20 years - which is dramatically more than in neighboring states.
This sort of draconian punishment for non-violent and drug offenses has made Louisiana the incarceration capital of the world. That is a title the state should work to shed.
A bill by New Orleans Sen. J.P. Morrell would help move the state in the right direction. Senate Bill 241, which was approved unanimously by the Judiciary C Committee Tuesday, would reduce jail time significantly. The sentence for possession of 14 grams or less for a first offense would be no more than 15 days in jail. For somewhat larger amounts, the sentence for a first or second offense would top out at six months.
The first offense could be erased two years after completion of a sentence, probation or parole if no other offenses were committed within that period. That second chance provision is a key change.
Third and fourth convictions would be felonies, but the maximum sentence would be greatly reduced from the 20 years possible now. A third conviction would carry no more than four years in jail and a fourth or subsequent offense no more than eight years.
Advocates for reduced sentences for nonviolent and drug offenses have pushed to eliminate felony charges for possession of small amounts of marijuana. That would be a good change, but it also seems unlikely to pass the Legislature.
Sen. Morrell managed to get reform advocates and law enforcement officials to agree on the version of SB 241 presented to Judiciary C Tuesday. That is no small feat.
His legislation would be a substantial improvement over current law. Not only does it reduce excessive sentences, it should lower the number of people who end up charged with felonies. That could make a huge difference in people’s lives, particularly in being able to get or keep a job and support themselves and their families.
Despite the efforts of a broad-based coalition pushing for sentencing reforms in recent years, the Legislature has made only modest changes. That includes a law to allow prosecutors and some defendants to enter into plea agreements for sentences below mandatory minimums. Another change allowed second-time offenders who are model prisoners to be eligible for parole after serving a third of their sentences instead of 50 percent.
Advocates for reform argue that reducing the prison population would save the state millions of dollars in supervision and incarceration costs. Sen. Morrell said his bill alone is estimated to save the state up to $6 million over five years. It also would bring relief to thousands of families.
Mainly because of mandatory minimum sentences, the state’s prison population doubled over the past 20 years to 40,000, according to Blueprint Louisiana, a statewide citizen group focused on reforms in criminal justice, education, health care and other issues. “Only 37 percent of offenders in Louisiana have been convicted of violent crimes … and the average sentence for a drug-related crime is almost 10 years,” according to the group.
Having that many people in prison consumes state resources that could be used for education or health care or other vital services. And it unnecessarily breaks apart families and makes them vulnerable financially.
Violent offenders ought to be in prison. But some offenders who are serving life sentences in Louisiana have never been convicted of a violent crime. That makes no sense.
One in every 86 adults in our state is serving time, which is more than twice the national average.
Sen. Morrell’s legislation would help Louisiana decrease those numbers over time. The Senate and House ought to follow the Judiciary Committee’s lead and approve his bill.
Online:
https://www.nola.com
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