Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called for his highly anticipated special session for crime on Thursday. In the attempt to overhaul Louisiana’s current criminal justice system previously reformed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, Landry is bringing two dozen tough-on-crime-related items.
Among those on Landry's agenda are expanding methods to carry out death row executions, restricting parole eligibility, harsher penalties for carjackings, “immunity from liability” for law enforcement based upon a certain criteria and publicizing some juvenile court records.
“We will defend and uplift our law enforcement officials and deliver true justice to crime victims who have been overlooked for far too long. I am eager to enact real change that makes Louisiana a safer state for all," Landry said in a statement.
The special session is scheduled to begin Feb. 19 and must end by the end of day March 6.
The release of the special session call, published on the Louisiana House of Representatives' website Thursday afternoon, is the first look at Landry's plan of action to tackle crime in the state.
This past election season, violent crime became a top concern among voters.
Like most of the country, violence surged in Louisiana following the onset of COVID-19. Despite data suggesting that Louisiana's crime rates have fallen in the last decade, New Orleans continues to struggle with the rates of homicide.
This is the second special session called by Gov. Landry since he took office in January. The purpose of the first session was to approve a congressional map with a second majority-Black district and pass a bill that reshaped the primary system for congressional elections.