Issued: January 25, 2023
The Urban League of Louisiana commends Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division for their investigative work into the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections which concluded that the Louisiana Department of Corrections routinely keeps more than a quarter of inmates behind bars past their scheduled release date.
Every incarcerated person is guaranteed by the Constitution to be released on time. No inmate should have to suffer from discriminatory actions or negligence by those who are entrusted to keep them safe, cared for, and rehabilitated. To add insult to injury, it is projected that these constitutional violations are costing the hardworking people of Louisiana millions in tax dollars.
Today’s findings by the Department of Justice reaffirms our call for criminal justice in the state, and the Urban League of Louisiana will continue to fight for those who are marginalized.
We are grateful for the work that Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and the Department of Justice has done to shine a spotlight on the inequities many African Americans are facing at the hands of state law enforcement agencies in Louisiana. We hope that this brings Louisiana closer to not only delivering justice to individuals in need, but to also give incarcerated citizens their rightful opportunity to properly have a second chance at being a contributing member of society.
To read the U.S. Department of Justice’s findings into the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections violations, click here.