Non-Violent Offenders Fill Jails in Prison Nation’s Worst State: Louisiana

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http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/liberals-and-libertarians-try-lower-louisiana-prison-rates



The United States is the world’s foremost prison nation—with the highest percentage of people behind bars—and Louisiana is its capital, with the most senseless mix of lengthy sentences for non-violent crimes, skyrocketing prison costs, and little evidence that its “lock ‘em up and forget ‘em” policies have reduced violence.

That’s the conclusion by a coalition of libertarian groups seeking sentencing reform in the state with highest incarceration rate—especially for non-violent drug offenses—who, along with Louisiana’s American Civil Liberties Union chapter, have launched a joint campaign to try to unwind one of America’s nastiest prison systems.

“When the Pelican Institute and the ACLU combine on a topic, comedians may lick their chops,” wrote James Varney, a New Orleans Times-Picayune columnist. “Or folks could conclude, ‘It’s time…’

Time is a curious word to use when describing how terrible Louisiana’s court system is. Despite some recent attempts to give judges some discretion in sentencing non-violent offenders, decades of mandatory sentencing laws—overwhelmingly snaring the state’s African-American population—add up to years in jail. According to a Mother Jones analysis, Blacks make up 33 percent of the population, but 76 percent of prisoners.