The Advocate
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections probation and parole officers have an almost impossible responsibility. I visited a lifers’ halfway house in Canada a few years ago. The parole officer we met had a caseload of four parolees.
Canada’s corrections philosophy is to begin on the first day of incarceration to prepare individuals for re-entry - even lifers. Most lifers in Canada are released after about 15 to 20 years on lifetime parole. Except for terrorism, the maximum sentence in Norway is 21 years, with parole usually after 15 years. Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the United States (and the world) at 857 per 100,000. Mississippi is second with 723 per 100,000. Louisiana also has the highest rate of individuals serving life sentences. Louisiana is one of six states that do not provide parole eligibility for life sentences. I don’t believe Louisiana has the worst citizens in the world, but just the toughest and longest sentences. The sheer number of individuals incarcerated puts a strain on this state and the ability of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to provide meaningful rehabilitation programs for those in prison and follow-up upon release. Louisiana has a “lock-'em-up-and-throw-away-the-key” philosophy, mainly because of politicians who wanted to show they were tough on crime by passing bills for longer sentences and additional crimes. You see it all the time in campaign literature. There is no meaningful mechanism to evaluate the rehabilitation of individuals serving life sentences to return them to society. There are individuals in Louisiana prisons serving life sentences who do not belong there and can be productive citizens if given the opportunity. This is demonstrated by the very few individuals who have been given a second chance in the past 10 years and the many more who long ago were given a second chance and continue to be productive members of society today. They have jobs, successful businesses, pay taxes and are no longer a burden to tax-paying citizens. There are many meaningful options from an educated and realistic position to deal with our high and long-term incarceration problems while still maintaining public safety. The politics needs to be taken out of the picture, and meaningful processes and procedures implemented that serve in the best interest of the public. The American Corrections Association Conference that will be held in New Orleans in August should be able to provide valuable information. We also have professional criminal justice educators who can help. Our politicians and the public need to be educated. There are people out here who want change and are willing to help. Reduce the incarceration rate, divert some of the money to probation and parole, and increase funds to our education system.
DIANE SMITH human resources specialist, federal government Metairie