Why It Matters
Louisiana, which ranks among the most incarcerated states in the country, is expanding an existing policy that ties educational achievement to earlier release eligibility. Governor Jeff Landry signed a bipartisan bill into law in April that extends sentence reduction credits to incarcerated individuals who earn associate’s degrees — a category not covered under a similar measure passed in 2021.
The new law takes effect August 1 and reflects a growing national conversation about whether education-based incentives can reduce recidivism and ease the long-term costs of mass incarceration.
What Happened
State Representative Mandie Landry introduced the legislation, which awards 90 days of “good time” credit to incarcerated individuals who complete an associate’s degree from an approved university. The credits must be authorized by the head of the correctional facility and can be revoked if the inmate engages in misconduct.
The law does not apply to individuals convicted of sex crimes or violent crimes, narrowing its reach to non-violent offenders.
The 2021 legislation had already established the same 90-day credit for earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The new measure fills in the gap for two-year degrees, which are often more attainable for people serving shorter sentences or working through limited in-prison program offerings.
Representative Landry framed the measure in economic terms. “We want people working and in the community and raising their families and not incarcerated,” she said. “It’s expensive.”
By the Numbers
90 days — sentence reduction available for earning an associate’s degree under the new law.
90 days — the same credit available under the 2021 law for completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
August 1, 2026 — the date the new law takes effect.
1st or 2nd — Louisiana’s consistent national ranking for highest incarceration rate.
2021 — the year Louisiana first enacted degree-based sentence credits for four-year and graduate programs.
Voices From Inside
Charles Amos, convicted of second-degree murder in 1995 and sentenced to life, enrolled in a seminary degree program at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola around 1999 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministry in 2007 through a Louisiana New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary partnership with the prison. He later received a favorable commutation recommendation in 2018, and his conviction was eventually reduced to manslaughter through an arrangement with the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, leading to his release.
Amos said the experience reshaped his outlook entirely. “Education is the key to turning people’s lives around,” he said. “It’s vital to have a person who’s educated.”
LeAnn Jochum, sent to the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women after a conviction for attempted first-degree murder, earned both an associate’s degree in general communication and a bachelor’s degree in business management while incarcerated. Her trajectory illustrates the type of outcome the legislation is designed to incentivize.
Zoom Out
Louisiana is not alone in pursuing education-linked sentence reductions. Several states have moved in recent years to expand “earned time” or “good time” credits tied to vocational training, college coursework, or degree completion. Proponents argue such policies reduce recidivism and lower the fiscal burden of lengthy incarceration. Critics of broader good-time credit expansions often point to public safety concerns, particularly around violent offenders — a concern the Louisiana law addresses directly through its violent crime exclusion.
The state’s persistent ranking as one of the most heavily incarcerated places in the country adds urgency to the policy debate. Louisiana has faced ongoing scrutiny over prison conditions, sentencing lengths, and the costs of maintaining one of the largest correctional populations per capita in the United States.
What’s Next
With the law taking effect August 1, Louisiana corrections officials will need to establish or update the list of approved university programs through which incarcerated individuals can qualify for the credit. Facility administrators will hold discretion over approving and, when warranted, revoking the credits on a case-by-case basis. Lawmakers and advocates are likely to monitor early implementation to assess how many inmates become immediately eligible and whether additional degree categories could be added in future sessions.