The Department of Corrections is celebrating the one year anniversary of the 2017 criminal justice reforms that saw Louisiana lose its title as the incarceration capital of the world. The department says the total prison population is at a 20 year low. The new parole system has seen the total supervised population fall by 7,000 people due to reforms that allow offenders to work towards goals that will reduce their time in the system. Outgoing President of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association Ricky Babin says he’s not exactly happy about the shortened parole periods.
Curators with the Louisiana State Musuem opened a time capsule today found underneath a recently removed confederate monument in New Orleans. The contents of the copper box revealed Confederate money, flags, a US medal and other items. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says it’s amazing that people of that time period had the foresight to preserve these items for people of today.
Cut 6 (10) “…is pretty incredible”.
Louisiana has begun its effort to extend foster care services for kids in the system up to age 21, from the current age limit of 18. The program got legislative approval and funding during the legislative season with widespread support. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says the extension costs the state about one million dollars a year, which allows it to get access to three million dollars in additional federal funding to help cover the costs. Walters says she’s glad the state prioritized the foster care system in the midst of some difficult fiscal cliff negotiations.
LSU hits the practice field on Saturday to begin fall camp and there’s plenty of new faces on offense. True freshmen Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall could be LSU’s best receivers since Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Junior. Orgeron says Marshall looks healthy after suffering a knee injury last season, while Chase has added muscle…