Dec 27, 2024 Story by: Editor
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill released a joint statement on Saturday in response to a federal lawsuit filed by the Justice Department against the State of Louisiana and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
The lawsuit accuses the state of illegally keeping individuals in prison after they have served their sentences and are legally eligible for release, alleging a violation of the 14th Amendment, which guarantees the right to freedom.
According to the Justice Department, the issue of “overdetention” is systemic within Louisiana’s prison system. Officials stated that after years of investigation, they informed the state of necessary reforms in early 2023. While Louisiana has made some progress, federal authorities argue that these efforts are insufficient to resolve the long-standing problems.
The lawsuit seeks no monetary damages but calls for systemic changes to address the issue.
In their statement, Landry and Murrill attributed the problem to “failed criminal justice reforms” implemented by the previous administration.
“These reforms ultimately complicated the criminal justice system, giving criminals a get out of jail free card. This past year, we have taken significant action to keep Louisianans safe and ensure those who commit the crime, also do the time,” the statement read.
They further criticized the Biden administration, describing the lawsuit as politically motivated.
“This is Grinch Joe Biden’s parting Christmas present to the State and the people of Louisiana. The Trump administration would likely have not allowed this case to be filed. As we saw this week in Concordia Parish, Joe Biden and Merrick Garland’s orders seem clear – jam through as many frivolous cases as possible before the clock runs out,” the statement continued.
The statement also took aim at the Justice Department, calling it “radical” and accusing it of targeting political opponents and overlooking pressing national issues.
“This is the same radical ‘justice’ department that goes after political opponents, targets Catholics, and sees concerned school parents as a threat. All the while, our country is being invaded at our southern border and violent crime is on the rise across the Nation. The American people have had enough of Biden’s inept DOJ,” the statement said.
Landry and Murrill reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the issue and ensuring public safety.
“We look forward to fighting this, because the safety of Louisianans is our top priority. The State of Louisiana is committed to preserving the constitutional rights of Louisiana citizens,” they concluded. Source: BR Proud
