State lawmakers have approved a package of bills aimed at overhauling our criminal justice system.

Right now Louisiana is called the "incarceration capitol of the nation". We lock more people up than any other state. These measures should reduce our prison population by at least 10%. Leaders say these changes will also save millions of dollars.

Prison reform advocates say the good part about the package of bills is that some of the money will be reinvested in prison alternatives to try to keep these inmates from returning to prison.

Most sheriffs and district attorneys support the package and say these changes primarily deal with non-violent offenders. However, 100 inmates convicted of 2nd degree murder would now be eligible for parole.

 

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