FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Camille Roane, (504) 579-3197, camille@redcypressconsulting.com

Samantha Miker, (727) 486-0027, samantha@redcypressconsulting.com 

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Louisiana voters showed up to the polls in force to say no to the legislature’s attempt to amend the state constitution and give themselves the power to make more felony offenses eligible for transfer to the adult criminal legal system.

Fueled by a coalition of youth justice advocates, criminal legal system reformers, and voting rights advocates,  more than 600,000  Louisiana voters delivered a surprising defeat to the changes proposed by Governor Landry and his allies.

“When our kids make mistakes, they deserve the opportunity to be rehabilitated,” said Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Executive Director Kristen Rome. “When we provide our kids with education and support, we give them the chance to take real accountability for their mistakes and get back on track, making all of us safer. We will continue to work across the state to ensure our young people have what they need to thrive.”

In an election where just 12 percent of registered voters were expected to show up to the polls, more than 20 percent showed up to vote on the four proposed constitutional amendments.

“Voters are tired of being told the only path to safety is incarceration. For decades we’ve seen what so-called tough-on-crime policies deliver—high incarceration rates, destabilized communities, and lack of opportunity for our neighbors to be rehabilitated and rejoin our communities,“ said Vera Institute of Justice’s Louisiana Director Sarah Omojola. “In defeating Amendment 3, voters made clear their desire for the things that actually make our communities safer—like quality education and opportunity.”

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About the Vera Institute of Justice

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. Vera’s headquarters is in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit vera.org.

About the Liberty and Dignity Coalition

The Liberty and Dignity Coalition (LDC) are organizations working across Louisiana for a healthy, sustainable, joyful, equitable, safe, and secure future for all. We work to increase community power through voter education, community organizing, and advocacy. Each of us seeks to reform economic systems, resist attacks on our collective freedom, reimage public safety, and recreate institutions through reinvestment in Louisianans.

Coalition Members

ACLU-LA

Louisiana Center for Children's Rights

Vera Institute of Justice

FFLIC

New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board

Power Coalition

Southern Poverty Law Center

PREACH

Our Voice Nuestra Voz

St. Charles Center for Center for Faith and Action

Promise of Justice Initiative

Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants

Innocence Project New Orleans

ALAS

Coalition for Compassionate Schools

Daughters Beyond Incarceration

The First 72+

Justice and Accountability Center

New Orleans Youth Alliance

Operation Restoration

The Parent Academy

The Reengagement Center

Ubuntu Village

VOTE

Voters Organized to Educate

East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Reform Coalition