Committee hears bill to reinstate "hard labor" for serious crimes; Department of Corrections raises staffing and cost concerns

State Representative Jennifer Rhodes introduced a replace‑all amendment to Senate Bill 15 at a public hearing of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, saying the measure would reintroduce "hard labor" as a sentencing option for certain serious crimes and carry a two‑year effective date to allow time for implementation.

Rhodes told the committee the amendment is intended to make imprisonment more productive for offenders and to reduce costs to the state. "The provisions that are in this legislation are things that people do every single day to support their families," she said. Rhodes said a person who declines hard labor under the bill would have "50% added on to the life of their sentence." She also said the bill is not intended to be derogatory toward work and suggested it could help victims by shifting emphasis toward victims' needs.

The committee's hearing drew operational questions from members and detailed implementation concerns from the Department of Corrections (DOC). Jane Graham, communications and legislative administrator for the DOC, said the department was taking a neutral position but warned the committee the agency has not yet completed a full…