Sentencing decisions shape whether people return home, remain in jail, or carry the long-term consequences of a conviction. Public discussion often focuses on…
The idea of replacing jails with community justice centers begins with a basic question: what response actually makes a community safer when someone is…
A suicide attempt in a jail cell is an immediate medical emergency, regardless of whether the person is awaiting trial or serving a sentence. Deputies are…
“Truth in sentencing” sounds simple: the sentence announced in court should resemble the time a person actually spends incarcerated. In Louisiana, however, the…
Food insecurity and incarceration are often treated as separate public issues. In practice, they can reinforce each other. A person who cannot reliably afford…
A person returning home after incarceration may need help with housing, transportation, identification, employment, health care, food, communication, and…
When a person is detained or sentenced in East Baton Rouge Parish, the financial consequences extend far beyond the prison walls. Families may lose wages, pay…
A jail mental health unit and a hospital may both provide psychiatric care, but they serve fundamentally different purposes. A hospital is designed around…
When a loved one is incarcerated, obtaining reliable information about their health can be difficult. Calls may be brief, messages may pass through several…
Immigration detainers can change the size, cost, and composition of a local jail population even when federal immigration officials do not operate the…