LOUISIANA, USA — Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order, declaring a state of emergency due to a shortage of police officers and deputies.
The Louisiana Sheriff’s Association estimates sheriffs’ offices are short approximately 1,800 deputies statewide.
The order lifts limits on how many new employees sheriffs can hire and on payroll increases for their departments.
“As a former police officer and sheriff’s deputy, I understand the vital role our law enforcement officers play in our communities,” Landry said. “Currently, our state is facing a shortage of officers, resulting in increased crime and less public safety. Today’s executive order, and the upcoming crime special session, will ensure our law enforcement officers are supported and we can begin to bring law and order back to our state.”
Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans questions the intent of the emergency declaration.
“We also have some other things that are an emergency,” Duplessis said. “We have a nursing shortage; we have a teacher shortage and most recently the governor did not embrace a long-term raise for teachers.”
Among the two dozen tough-on-crime-related items on Landry’s agenda for the special session are expanding methods to carry out death row executions, restricting parole eligibility, lowering the age at which young offenders can be prosecuted in adult court, and increasing penalties for certain crimes.
Rep. Laurie Schlegel, R-Metairie, has a bill that would increase the minimum sentence for carjacking from two to five years with a minimum of 20 years if there is serious bodily injury.
“I think anytime you’re held accountable, and you actually suffer consequences for your actions, that’s just human behavior that it’s going to deter it,” Schlegel said.
Lawmakers are also expected to consider authorizing people to carry concealed weapons without obtaining a permit and limiting their liability.
Duplessis says he doesn’t see anything in what’s been proposed so far, that is actually going to lead to an increase in public safety.
“I get it. I understand Gov. Landry is keeping a campaign promise but it’s a real missed opportunity. This is a real missed opportunity to address the broader issues around what leads to crime.”
Bruce Reilly from Voice of the Experienced, a group that works to expand rights for people on parole or probation fears lawmakers could reverse a package of criminal justice reform bills passed in 2017.
It expanded probation and parole opportunities and reduced sentences, mainly for nonviolent offenders.
“We try to create housing and jobs, mental health services, addiction services, if we were to do those things we’d actually have a real impact on crime,” Reilly said.
Reilly added that nobody is in favor of crime.
“Nobody is in favor of having their stuff taken, being hurt, being harmed, having their families be harmed, it’s how we deal with it, is where we part ways, I think.”
The 16-day special session begins on Monday.
“We know we have an issue and so we know we need to do things differently and that’s what I’m hoping comes out of this session,” Rep. Schlegel said.
One item on the same agenda calls for redrawing the state's Supreme Court maps. Something that failed during last month’s special session on elections.
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