[link removed] [[link removed]]
John,
Louisiana’s share of people serving life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) ranks highest per capita [[link removed]] nationally and across the globe, with more than 4,000 Louisianans serving LWOP, according to a new fact sheet [[link removed]] released today by The Sentencing Project. My family is originally from Tunica, Louisiana and I have a loved one serving a life sentence there, so The Sentencing Project’s work on extreme sentencing in the Pelican State is significant for me.
The second degree murder statute is a major driver of Louisian’s large LWOP population. In 2023, The Sentencing Project and its incredible state partners were able to pass a resolution, SCR 45, which created a committee to reform Louisiana's second degree murder statute, which imposes mandatory life without parole sentences on a broad range of conduct, including “felony murder.” Felony murder [[link removed]] treats a homicide that occurred during the commission of a felony as murder, even among individuals who had no intent to cause death or serious injury.
That means that Louisiana punishes many people who had no intent to kill just as harshly as those who did – imposing mandatory life without parole. It does not matter if you did not commit the homicide yourself, you can be punished for life merely for being present. The only difference in punishment between first degree and second degree murder is the option of the death penalty .
That needs to change.
We’re proud of this significant advocacy win in a state where sentencing reform has been notoriously difficult - our resolution was the only piece of sentencing reform legislation passed this past session.
2024 is going to be a critical year for sentencing reform in Louisiana, but we will continue our fight to institute a new second degree statute and stop more people entering the system through this disproportionate sentence.
Louisiana LWOP Fact Sheet [[link removed]]
[[link removed]] Alexandra Bailey
Senior Campaign Strategist
Email: [email protected] [[email protected]]
Donate [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] The Sentencing Project
1705 DeSales St. NW
8th Fl
Washington, DC 20036
United States
www.sentencingproject.org [[link removed]] If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .