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Representative Freyberg’s bill to create transitional reentry housing for women advanced out of committee
Summary
The Senate Judiciary B Committee reported House Bill 168 favorably after testimony that the narrow program would provide residential reentry supports for parole-eligible women within six months of release to reduce recidivism and improve public safety.
Representative Freyberg asked the Senate Committee on Judiciary B on Tuesday to report House Bill 168 favorably. The bill would create a narrowly tailored residential reentry pathway for women who have already been granted parole and are within six months of their projected release date.
Andrew Hundley, executive director of the Louisiana Parole Project, told the committee the program is meant to provide a structured step-down from incarceration: “Instead of expecting a woman to go from the realities of prison one day to being released on her own the next, this program gives her a chance to move into the shallow end and wait out safely, rather than being pushed straight into the deep end.” Hundley said the residential setting would combine therapeutic supports, stability and accountability to reduce the risk of victimization and recidivism.
Dwight Hudson, state director for Right on Crime, testified in support and framed the bill as both a reentry and public-safety measure, saying structured reentry reduces recidivism and, by extension, victimization. Multiple organizations submitted cards in support and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections made staff available for information.
Senator Talbot moved that the committee report House Bill 168 favorably. Seeing no objection, the committee adopted the motion and the bill was reported favorably.
The bill, as described to the committee, applies only to women already parole-eligible and within six months of release; it does not change eligibility for people with years remaining on their sentences. The committee did not take roll-call votes on the measure and advanced it to the next stage of consideration.
