Today the governor released his final recommendations of the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Task Force, and plans for criminal justice reform to be taken up during the upcoming legislative session. It says the proposals would ensure consistency in sentencing and release practices, focus prison beds on those who pose a serious threat to public safety and clear away barriers to successful reentry into the community and the workforce, to name a few. They estimate that if the ideas were enacted, the prison population would drop 13 percent over the next decade, and save $150 million dollars.

On his monthly call-in radio show, the Governor Edwards said he’s grateful for the more than three and a half decades of service by State Police Col Mike Edmonson. The Superintendent announced his retirement Wednesday which will be effective a week from tomorrow. Edwards says, from there, he will appoint an interim head Col…:
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The retirement announcement comes as multiple agencies are investigating LSP’s travel spending.

A new record has been set in the Pelican State for seat belt usage. Based on a study from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, 88-percent of drivers and passengers are buckled up, which is up two-percent from the previous year. The commission’s executive director is Doctor Katara Williams …:
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Usage rates were up in each region of the state, except for the Alexandria and Monroe areas.

A Walker police sergeant has been suspended for three days without pay after hanging a noose in the department’s squad room. Walker Police Capt. John Sharp said it was a piece of twine that had a cookie tied to it. He says there’s a law on the books that prohibits the display of a noose in public to intimidate a person or persons…:
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Chief David Addison requested the Attorney General’s office to investigate.