"Louisiana's Tough-on-Crime Overhaul: New Laws and Implications"

Louisiana's new Republican governor, Jeff Landry, has led a special session to enact stringent new laws rolling back the 2017 criminal justice reforms, aiming to crack down on crime and violence. The measures include lengthening sentences, limiting parole, prosecuting 17-year-olds as adults, and expanding methods of execution. While supporters argue that these measures are necessary for public safety, critics fear they will disproportionately punish people of color, hinder prisoner rehabilitation, and impose a heavy financial burden on taxpayers. This move reflects a broader trend as other states, like Oregon, also backtrack on criminal justice reforms in response to rising crime rates.