BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana, where one out of every 55
adults is incarcerated, could see its prison population gradually
decline if a package of bills up for debate in the House this week
is passed into law.
The four bills mainly target nonviolent offenders, who make up
60 percent of the state's inmates. The proposed laws would enable
prisoners not serving time for violent or sexual offenses to be
considered for parole sooner and earn early release for good
behavior.
Most of the bills would only apply to those convicted after Aug.
15, so it would be years before major reductions in prisoner
numbers would be seen.
Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc is a strong proponent of the
bills.
The House is scheduled to consider the proposals Wednesday and
Thursday.

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