Louisiana Senator John Kennedy sent a letter to President Trump critical of the criminal justice reforms enacted last year by Governor John Bel Edwards.
In his letter Kennedy writes ‘ the Justice Reinvestment Act is failing the law-abiding public in Louisiana. Already, 22% of inmates have been rearrested’.
Sen. Kennedy also writes ‘the Louisiana Department of Corrections is not competent to handle the prison release program’.
In response, a spokesman for Governor Edwards says ‘This information by the junior senator is unequivocally wrong’.
‘The bipartisan criminal justice reforms are working in Louisiana and were modeled off of reforms implemented in other Southern conservative states. By focusing on incarcerating more violent offenders, Louisiana is getting smarter on crime and able to put in place programs that ensure non-violent offenders are better prepared to enter society’ said Richard Carbo, a spokesman for Governor Edwards.
Sen. Kennedy’s letter comes the day before Gov. Edwards is scheduled to meet with President Trump to discuss criminal justice reforms.
‘Gov. Edwards is honored to be invited by President Trump to have a serious bipartisan policy discussion about these successful reforms’ said Carbo.
