Steve Mays / CC
The Justice Department is suing the State of Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Corrections, claiming that the state is keeping prisoners in custody after they have completed their sentences.
Lydia Wright, associate director of civil litigation at the Promise of Justice Initiative, says a years-long investigation found that the Louisiana Department of Corrections is keeping thousands of prisoners behind bars beyond their scheduled release dates.
“The state is deliberately ignoring its duty to release people from DOC custody — from jails — after they have served their time,” says Wright.
In 2019, PJI represented Brian Humphrey in his lawsuit against Jimmy LeBlanc, who was secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections until his sudden resignation this past August.
In his lawsuit, Humphrey was slated to be released from custody in Bossier Parish on April 16, 2019, after completing his sentence.
However, the local sheriff, for reasons unknown, instead transferred him to a state-run work camp for incarcerated people and was forced to work until May 13 — 27 days beyond his scheduled release date.
Wright is pinning the blame on the state not using modern technology to keep track of when prisoners are scheduled to be released.
“In the year 2024 — almost 2025 — there is absolutely no reason why the State of Louisiana cannot use modern technology and modern systems and modern processes to do this basic task of ensuring that people are released after they have served their sentences,” Wright says.
Gov. Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a joint statement, calling the lawsuit frivolous.
“This is Grinch Joe Biden’s parting Christmas present to the State and the people of Louisiana,” the statement reads. “As we saw this week in Concordia Parish, Joe Biden and Merrick Garland’s orders seem clear — jam through as many frivolous cases as possible before the clock runs out.
“As we have continuously said, this problem stems from the failed criminal justice reforms pushed by the past administration,” the statement continues. “These reforms ultimately complicated the criminal justice system, giving criminals a get out of jail free card.”
Wright says the problems started well before Biden took office.
“The DOJ’s investigation started under Donald Trump as the President,” Wright points out. “The lawsuit has been filed now after years of the DOJ providing an opportunity for the DOC to actually remedy its policies and practices.”
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