Louisiana’s “three strikes” policy is commonly understood as a rule that imposes severe punishment after repeated felony convictions. In practice, the system…
A prison pen pal program can create a reliable human connection for people held at East Baton Rouge Parish Prison while helping community members understand…
A jail grievance process is supposed to give incarcerated people a safe, documented way to report unsafe conditions, medical neglect, abuse, discrimination,…
A public defender’s responsibility extends far beyond appearing in court and announcing a plea. Effective representation requires time to investigate the…
A jail sentence can remove a person from work, housing, caregiving responsibilities, treatment, and community support. For people charged with lower-level…
A bail schedule can look like a neutral administrative tool: a list of preset amounts assigned to specific charges. In practice, it can shape who goes home,…
When a person is held at a parish jail, the loss of liberty does not erase the right to receive necessary medical and mental healthcare. In East Baton Rouge…
A moratorium on new jail construction is a public decision to pause the planning, financing, approval, or building of additional detention capacity. It gives a…
A mental health emergency can unfold quickly: a person may be frightened, disoriented, suicidal, hearing voices, experiencing a substance-related crisis, or…
A person can lose a job, housing, transportation, and contact with family before a court decides whether they committed a crime. For people accused of…