A Place to Stay: Considering Obstacles to Reentry in Louisiana
Louisiana’s high incarceration rates continue to dominate the discussion around public safety and criminal justice in the state. Far less attention is given to the most common conclusion of high incarceration numbers: high reentry numbers. Each year in Louisiana, over 10,000 individuals exit prison after completing their sentence, beginning their transition back into society. What happens next is critically important.
That reentry process is far from straightforward. In addition to court-imposed requirements, the formerly incarcerated must navigate the social and economic challenges that accompany reintegration. Transitional housing for those undergoing reentry can provide a base of stability from which to launch into productivity and societal contribution while offering an alternative to returning to the communities they lived in before incarceration. These temporary housing programs are available during a time when recidivism is most likely to occur, the months immediately following release. However, Louisiana has a shortage of reentry housing and a great degree of variation between judicial districts and reentry courts, making it difficult for the formerly incarcerated to identify and take advantage of available reentry resources.
Recent reporting from the Louisiana Illuminator reveals that, despite the research-backed benefits and structure offered by halfway and reentry programs, the state is relying on non-profits with fewer beds available than what is needed to support its reentering population. These nonprofit organizations, like A New Way of Life in New Orleans and the Parole Project in Baton Rouge, do their best to accommodate the needs of their residents through philanthropic donations and the state allocation of up to $20 per person per day. However, there are more people in need than the current number of halfway houses can accommodate.
The formerly incarcerated, who often began reentry training and education while still in prison, are faced with the dilemma of finding ways to continue their education and rehabilitation in the absence of consistently available and standardized resources across the state. The momentum of in-prison education and job training can come to a grinding halt after release, increasing the likelihood of recidivism and functionally wasting the taxpayer dollars poured into these programs.
What can Louisiana do to optimize positive outcomes for this population? As always, it begins with evidence-based strategies, solid data, and commitment. Understanding how many people are exiting prison and what kind of education and training they have received can help state and local agencies offer guidance towards continuing the reentry process. More than just data about the incarcerated population, understanding the nonprofit and private entities available to aid in the transition can allow for further collaboration between agencies and the private sector. Empowered with strong data and a record of strong performance among non-governmental partners, lawmakers can establish clear metrics for successful reentry and standardize protocols surrounding them.
As outlined in The Future of Justice: A Conservative Vision to Enhance Public Safety in Louisiana, Louisiana falls significantly behind other states in establishing reentry courts and programs across its judicial districts. Expanding reentry efforts across the state and incorporating targeted funding to meet pain points, like a shortage of reentry housing, can have far reaching effects. The natural conclusion of high reentry numbers does not have to be recidivism. By supporting what works, Louisiana can create a robust reentry network that changes the discussion about public safety in our state.
