According to the Pelican Institute for Public Policy property crimes in the Bayou State are decreasing but violent crime is up, which mirrors a nationwide trend. Vice President for Policy and Strategy with the Institute Erin Bendily says their report can help lawmakers in implementing proven methods to reduce crime…
“But we do that grounded in data and grounded in things that have been proven and that’s what this report is all about,” said Bendily.
The study shows property crime in Louisiana is down 30% over the last two decades. And there’s been a 25% decrease in burglaries and robberies in the last five years.
When you look at violent crime in Louisiana, she says the rate was flat from 2014 to 2019, but in 2020 Bendily says things changed drastically.
“About a 30% increase since 2020, we see that in Louisiana, but we also see that as a nationwide phenomenon,” said Bendily.
Bendily says the data also shows it’s possible to reduce incarceration rates, especially among nonviolent offenders, and reduce crime at the same time. Programs designed to rehabilitate nonviolent criminals, for example, drug offenders, are keeping the recidivism rate down.
“There are proven programs that we know that we can help people get access to the help that they need and also connect them with employment,” said Bendily.
Bendily says Louisiana is already seeing improvements in recidivism rates by incarcerating more violent offenders and implementing programs to give nonviolent offenders a second chance and proper guidance.
To read the entire report click here.
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