This text of Louisiana § 15:745.4 (Back on Track Louisiana Pilot Program; establishment) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
§745.4. Back on Track Louisiana Pilot Program; establishment
A.Subject to the availability of funds and appropriate resources, the sheriff of each
parish is hereby authorized to establish and administer a Back on Track Louisiana Pilot
Program for inmates of any jail or prison under the jurisdiction of the sheriff.
B.The legislature recognizes that an essential component of reducing recidivism is
providing an individual with the necessary skills to afford the individual with the opportunity
to earn a living, support his family, and contribute to his community.
C.For purposes of this Section, "individual" shall mean an inmate sentenced to the
Department of Public Safety and Corrections who is in the custody of the sheriff.
D.The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall promulgat
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§745.4. Back on Track Louisiana Pilot Program; establishment
A. Subject to the availability of funds and appropriate resources, the sheriff of each
parish is hereby authorized to establish and administer a Back on Track Louisiana Pilot
Program for inmates of any jail or prison under the jurisdiction of the sheriff.
B. The legislature recognizes that an essential component of reducing recidivism is
providing an individual with the necessary skills to afford the individual with the opportunity
to earn a living, support his family, and contribute to his community.
C. For purposes of this Section, "individual" shall mean an inmate sentenced to the
Department of Public Safety and Corrections who is in the custody of the sheriff.
D. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall promulgate rules in
accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to assign a percentage value to each of
the following criteria that an inmate satisfied while being confined in a parish jail:
(1) Attained a tenth grade reading level.
(2) Obtained a high school diploma or GED credential.
(3) Obtained an industry-based certificate.
(4) Established a bank account with at least two months of living expenses.
(5) Obtained a valid driver's license.
(6) Established a verified permanent address prior to release.
(7) Obtained a release or extinguishment of any prior wage garnishments or debts.
(8) Secured an employment opportunity prior to release.
E.(1) The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall calculate one-half of
the average number of days of incarceration of an inmate times the amount the department
pays the sheriff each day for the housing of inmates in parish jails as provided by R.S.
15:824(B)(1)(a).
(2) The sheriff shall report to the department the criteria, as established pursuant to
Subsection D of this Section, accomplished by each inmate.
(3) The department shall multiply the total percentage value of the criteria
accomplished by each inmate times the value established by Paragraph (1) of this Subsection,
and the department shall pay that amount to the sheriff for each inmate.
(4) The amount paid for each inmate pursuant to Paragraph (3) of this Subsection
shall be in addition to the amount paid pursuant to R.S. 15:824(B)(1)(a).
F. The department shall be responsible for the tracking and collection of recidivism
rates of inmates relative to the criteria in Subsection D of this Section and may adjust the
criteria from time to time to reflect reduced recidivism.
G. The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is hereby
authorized to provide inmates housed in parish jails with access to as many support services
as possible to increase the likelihood of successful reentry into society and to reduce
recidivism. If any inmate violates the conditions prescribed by the sheriff or the Department
of Public Safety and Corrections, the inmate's program privileges may be withdrawn.
H. The provisions of this Section shall be implemented only to the extent that funds
are appropriated for this purpose and to the extent that is consistent with available resources.
If any funding for the program is not adequate to cover the costs of payments provided to the
sheriff in Subsection E of this Section, payments may be reduced proportionately relative to
available funding and the secretary may limit the number of participating parishes to serve
as pilot locations for the program.