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Reentry ID Legislation Clears House Criminal Justice Committee
After weeks of working with numerous stakeholders, LABI successfully saw the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice advance HB 167 by Rep. Barbara Freiberg (R-Baton Rouge), a measure that requires the Department of Corrections to provide people leaving state facilities with essential identification and employment documents so they can immediately begin pursuing jobs, housing and financial stability.
We have repeatedly highlighted how workforce shortages require solutions that expand opportunity and connect more Louisianans to employment. Many individuals complete job training and earn valuable credentials while incarcerated, yet too often those skills cannot be verified by employers upon release—creating an unnecessary hurdle to employment.
The original goal of the legislation was to ensure individuals leaving both state and local facilities had access to these documents. Because more than half of incarcerated individuals are housed in local facilities, that broader scope remains important. However, due to implementation concerns raised by local partners, amendments adopted in committee will limit the bill’s impact to state facilities for now. Rep. Freiberg noted she plans to continue working with sheriffs and stakeholders to expand the policy in the future.
“If we prepare people before release, they will succeed after release,” she said.