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Louisiana is the world's prison capital

HOW WE BECAME NO. 1 FOUR REASONS highlight why Louisiana locks up more people than anywhere in the world. UNIÓN MOREHOUSE WEST CARROLL 1. KEEPING LOCAL PRISONS FILLED FOR PROFIT CLAIBORNE EAST CARROLL CADDO LINCOLN BOSSIER WEBSTER OUACHITA In Louisiana, local prisons are not just used for people awaiting trial. Many parishes are in the lucrative business of housing prisoners serving state time. With the exception of St. Tammany, the parishes shaded in red import hundreds of prisoners from other parts of the state. St. Tammany's state-sentenced inmates are mostly from within the parish. JACKSON RICHLAND BIENVILLE MADISON CALDWELL RED RIVER DESOTO FRANKLIN TENSAS WINN LA SALLE SABINE CATAHOULA NATCHITOCHES GRANT PERCENTAGE OF LOCAL PRISON BEDS AVAILABLE FOR STATE CONVICTS CONCORDIA Other beds occupied by those awaiting trial There are over 160 local prisons in the state, One parish prison One state prison 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% RAPIDES VERNON AVOYELLES versus 12 state prisons. WEST FELICIANA O EVANGELINE ALLEN EAST FELICIANA WASHINGTON ST. HELENA Note: Data from BEAUREGARD ST. LANDRY Dec. 31, 2011 POINTE COUPEE TANGIPAHOA WEST BATON ROUGE EAST BATON ROUGE LIVINGSTON ST. TAMMANY ACADIA JEFFERSON DAVIS CALCASIEU ASCENSION LAFAYETTE ST. MARTIN IBERVILLE ST. -ORLEANS ST. JAMES JOHN JEFFERSON VERMILION IBERIA ST. ASSUMPTION MARTIN CAMERON ST. CHARLES ST. MARY ST. BERNARD 39 PLAQUEMINES LAFOURCHE TERREBONNE WHY ARE THERE SO MANY LOCAL PRISONS TO BEGIN WITH? In the early 1990s, Louisiana was under a federal court LOCAL PRISONS NOW HOUSE MORE THAN HALF OF LOUISIANA INMATES order to reduce its prison population. The Department of Corrections encouraged local sheriffs and private companies to build new prisons by allowing them to skim a portion of the profits. There is now a higher percentage of inmates in local prisons than in state prisons. Percentage of inmates in local prisons Percentage of inmates in state prisons 40,000 inmates WHAT DO SHERIFFS DO WITH THE MONEY? 30,000 50 Louisiana specializes in incarceration on the cheap. The state pays the sheriffs $24.39 per day, per inmate, which means not a lot is left over after food, housing and personnel costs. The sheriff uses some of the profit to buy patrol cars, shotguns, bulletproof vests, etc. That leaves almost nothing for programs that benefit inmates and reduce their chances of another prison stay. 53 55 55 55 56 55 55 54 57 56 59 63 20,000 67 65 72 66 75 75 10,000 51 50 52 44 44 45 45 46 47 45 43 45 45 41 25 25 23 28 34 33 35 37 06. '91 *92 '93 *94 '95 "96 '97 '98 '99 2000 01 "02 "03 *04 "05 *06 "07 "08 "09 10 '11 2. PAROLE IS HARD TO COME BY 3. LOCAL PRISON ECOSYSTEMS 4. HARSH SENTENCING LAWS Louisiana is one of six states where all life sentences are granted without parole, and those up for parole have had a harder time getting it under Govs. Blanco and Jindal. Sheriffs trade inmates like horses, shipping a few to a pal up north who has empty beds. Louisiana is tougher on criminals than most other states, including Texas, which also has a high incarceration rate. For example, Orleans Parish State/ incarceration ranking First-degree murder Car Worthless burglary checks sentences a man to eight years because of a drug charge. Not more than 12 years and/or fine 6 months to 10 years, or fine Louisiana No. 1 Death, life without parole Orleans Parish Prison is full, so he is sent to the sheriff in a rural parish like Madison, He returns to New Orleans with no rehabilitation, at risk of committing another crime. Death, life with or without parole, 5 to 99 years No more than a year in jail and/or fine Fine of no more than $500 Texas No. 4 California No. 20 Death, life without parole, 25 years to life Jail term of no more than Jail term of no more than a year a year He may be arbitrarily sent to another rural prison with beds to fill. All life sentences Life, life without Madison Parish sheriff receives $24.39 a day from the state for him, little of which goes toward his rehab. Life sentences are without parole parole-eligible HOW EACH STATE SENTENCES HABITUAL OFFENDERS parole Louisiana California Техas 70% For the 2nd and 3rd offenses, up to twice the maximum For The next offense is 60 50 52% 40 Gov. Kathleen Gov. Bobby Jindal the 2nd offense, bumped to a higher felony class. Blanco sentence is Most of that $24.39 is spent on food, housing and guards' salaries. Anything left over is profit for the sheriff. The prisoner does nothing all day. doubled if first sentence. 3rd offense, life without parole if all are violent crimes, drug 30 felony was violent or serious, 3rd offense, 25 years to life if previous 20 Sources: Deparment of Corrections, staf research PERCENTAGE OF PRISONERS 24% crimes, sex crimes with underage victim, or crimes with sentences of 12 years or more. 10 GRANTED PAROLE two were violent or serious. RYAN SMITH/ THE TIMES-PICAYUNE 1990 95 2000 05 '11

Louisiana is the world's prison capital

shared by Rsammy on May 15
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Louisiana is the world's prison capital. The state imprisons more of its people, per head, than any of its U.S. counterparts. First among Americans means first in the world. Louisiana's incarceration ...

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