§824.2. Programs to Reduce Recidivism Fund

A. The Programs to Reduce Recidivism Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "fund", is hereby created in the state treasury. Interest earned on the investment of monies in the fund shall be deposited in and credited to the fund. Unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the close of each fiscal year shall remain in the fund. Monies in the fund shall be appropriated, administered, and used solely and exclusively for the purposes provided by this Section.

B. The fund shall be comprised of all monies appropriated, donated, or otherwise made available to provide funding for the purposes set forth in the provisions of this Section. Any funds realized from a reduction in the amount of time a person convicted of a crime of violence is required to serve prior to being eligible for parole consideration as provided for in R.S. 15:574.4(B) shall also be appropriated to the fund. All of such monies required to be deposited in the state treasury in accordance with Article VII, Section 9(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana shall be deposited in the fund after first meeting the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.

C. Monies in the fund shall be appropriated and used for the following purposes:

(1) To defray the operational expenses of probation and parole and reentry initiatives.

(2) To assist in establishing and reimbursing the operational expenses of local corrections rehabilitative programs that do the following:

(a) Provide inmates housed in local facilities with fundamental resources in the areas of employment, life skills training, and job placement.

(b) Provide the inmates with access to as many support services as possible to appreciably increase the likelihood of successful reentry into society and to reduce recidivism.

D. The fund shall be administered by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Criminal Justice and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, hereinafter referred to as "the administrators". Monies in the fund shall be distributed to probation and parole, reentry initiatives, and local prison facilities through a grant program established by the administrators. The administrators shall allocate funds as necessary for the purposes provided in Subsection C of this Section. The administrators shall promulgate such rules, regulations, and procedures as are necessary in administering the provisions of this Section.

Acts 2016, No. 509, §4.