NEW ORLEANS — On day three of the special legislative session on crime, lawmakers considered bills making it tougher for offenders to get out of jail early.
House Criminal Justice Committee Chair Debbie Villio, R-Kenner, presented a bill that would effectively eliminate the possibility of parole for most Louisiana offenders.
The new law would apply to all adults convicted of a crime on or after August 1, 2024.
“For those of you who believe parole should be considered for a person 18 years or older who commits a heinous crime for which the sentence of life is imposed, there’s likely very little I can say to you to make a difference we simply disagree,” Villio said.
Those disagreeing with Villio argued eliminating parole would undermine the possibility of rehabilitation and redemption and fill the state’s already overcrowded prisons.
“About 25 percent of the people currently incarcerated in prison are going to die in prison. So, this is going to add that group,” Bruce Reilly from the Voice of the Experienced.
The Legislative Fiscal Office estimates the result of this bill would cost the state an additional $14 million a year in prison expenses.
“There is no cost too high to protect our public safety,” Villio said. “There is no price too high to make Louisiana better than what it is so that it can grow economically.”
Villio also brought a companion bill that would require those convicted of a crime to serve 85 percent of their prison sentence before they are eligible to have their time reduced for good behavior.
That drew strong opposition from former Gretna State Representative Joe Marino, the past chairman of the criminal justice committee.
He was one of the architects of 2017 reforms that reduced the prison population for mostly nonviolent offenders.
“Eliminating parole and going to 85 percent of the time will absolutely increase our jail population, and we will retake our title again as the highest incarcerator in the nation and not have results that you are going to want,” Marino said.
Despite Marino’s impassioned plea not to roll back the reforms, the committee approved both of Villio’s bills and sent them to the full house for more debate.
Also happening at the state capitol, a bill that would allow law abiding citizens to carry a concealed weapon without a permit got a thumbs up from the Senate Finance Committee.
It is expected to be considered by the full Senate on Thursday.
WATCH: WWL Louisiana's Alyssa Curtis breaks down the third day of Gov. Landry's Special Session on Crime below:
The House Appropriation Committee also approved $19 million to set up a new state police troop in New Orleans.
Rep. Matthew Willard, a Democrat from Gentilly, says NOPD can use the help, but he has some concerns.
“Will the state police have to follow the consent decree. Will there be any engagement with the New Orleans City Council,” Willard said.
Late Thursday, criminal justice advocates, including the Voice of The Experienced, filed for a Temporary Restraining Order, asking a Baton Rouge judge to press pause on a number of bills advanced out of the House Criminal Justice Committee.
They argue a rule limiting public discussion violates the state constitution.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.