Governor John Bel Edwards touted his criminal justice reform efforts during a visit to Washington, D.C. to participate in a criminal justice reform event.

Deputy Corrections Secretary Natalie LaBorde also attended the gathering with the Governor. Right now, Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the nation, but that will likely change as a result of a package of reforms that Edwards signed earlier this year.

The Governor says through a bipartisan effort, state leaders adopted a package of innovative, evidence-based approaches to reducing recidivism and incarceration, such as steering less serious offenders away from prison, strengthening alternatives to prison and jail, and removing barriers to success during re-entry into society, according to the release.

The Governor is also attending an event called Jobs for Americas Graduates (JAG) which is a nationwide non-profit program that has helped more than one million young people facing difficult challenges earn their high school diploma or equivalency degree, successfully receive post-secondary education, and find meaningful employment.

Edwards has expanded the JAG program in Louisiana to 123 schools.

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