Governor Jeff Landry promised to make Louisiana safer. But instead of pursuing smart justice, his administration is locking more people up for longer—at an enormous human and financial cost.

Since 2024, Louisiana has eliminated parole for most prisoners, doubled minimum time served from 35% to 85% of a sentence, and blocked pretrial jail credit. The result? Thousands more people behind bars, fewer opportunities for early release, and parole hearings slashed to their lowest levels in two decades. Even people who’ve shown clear rehabilitation—supported by victims, families, and law enforcement—are being denied a second chance.

Meanwhile, Louisiana’s prison population has surged, and our jails are overcrowded. Local sheriffs are begging the state to move inmates because they don’t have space. Angola, the state’s largest prison, is expanding to hold hundreds more people and hire 150 new staff—despite struggling with chronic understaffing for years.

Taxpayers are footing the bill. Governor Landry’s own administration projects that corrections spending will jump by $82 million next year alone. Medical costs are soaring as incarcerated people age behind bars. And instead of expanding parole—which costs about $2,200 per person each year—we’re doubling down on imprisonment, which costs over $37,000 per person annually.

All of this is being done without evidence that it actually makes us safer. In fact, the state’s own data shows people released on parole are less likely to return to prison than those held until the end of their sentence.

We cannot afford to keep repeating the mistakes of the past. Mass incarceration has failed. It’s time for a different path.

We, the undersigned, call on the Louisiana Legislature and Governor Landry to:

• Reinstate parole eligibility for all incarcerated people, based on behavior and readiness.
• Repeal the 85% minimum sentence rule that keeps people locked up longer with no benefit to public safety.
• Require fiscal and impact analyses before any future sentencing changes are passed.

Let’s invest in rehabilitation—not a bigger prison system. Louisiana deserves a smarter, safer future.