Louisiana sheriffs seek $21M boost for housing state inmates
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A push from Louisiana's sheriffs to boost the amount they receive for housing state inmates in local jails has started advancing in the House, carrying a multimillion-dollar price tag.
The proposal from Rep. Katrina Jackson, a Monroe Democrat, would increase the amount Louisiana pays sheriffs for each inmate from $24.39 to $28.39 per day.
The House criminal justice committee backed the measure Wednesday without objection. The proposal heads next to the House budget committee for review.
Financial analysts estimate the increase would cost Louisiana nearly $21 million in the upcoming budget year to house more than 14,000 state inmates in parish jails.
Sheriffs say they're losing money after lawmakers passed a criminal sentencing law rewrite. And they say they're trying to improve treatment and education programs for inmates they house.