Steve Mays / CC
Advocates say after the successful implementation of 2017’s criminal justice reform, the state needs to turn its attention next to its highest in the nation percentage of inmates in prison for life without the possibility of parole.
Promise of Justice Attorney Jamila Johnson says attempts to include changes to life without parole sentencing in 2017 were scrapped, leaving Louisiana as an international outlier.
“You’re looking at less than 90 people in the whole of the U.K. who are serving life without parole sentences, compared to Louisiana’s 4,700,” says Johnson.
A Loyola University study shows the number of life without parole inmates has more than quadrupled since the Legislature voted to remove parole as an option for life sentences in the late 70s.
A Sentencing Project study showed Louisiana topped the nation in 2017 with 13% of it’s prison population being lifers without the chance of parole. Johnson says 51% of the reason is due to sentencing options for Second Degree Murder.
“Louisiana is one of only two states in the country that finds life without parole for Second Degree Murder,” says Johnson.
That 13% has likely increased as more inmates serving on non-violent charges are released early due to the 2017 reform.
Johnson says the incoming class of lawmakers should consider implementing sentencing reforms proposed by the Justice Reinvestment Taskforce. She says inmates need to have hope that at some point in time they’ll be allowed to leave prison.
“That changes how to interact with the criminal justice system all along the way,” says Johnson.
A Louisiana District Attorneys Association spokesperson told the Advocate sentencing changes gamble with the public’s safety and impact victim’s families.
