History
For years, the state of Louisiana imprisons more of its people, per head, than any of its U.S. counterparts. First among Americans means first in the world.
In November of 2014, the 1st Annual Reentry Alliance in Louisiana (REAL) HELP Conference was held in Baton Rouge. This was the brain child of James Windom, Executive Director of the Capital Area Reentry Coalition (CAPARC), who felt the need for connecting with reentry organizations across the state to share ideas and provide a better response in service of those returning back to their communities after being incarcerated, “returning citizens” or “Formerly Incarcerated Individuals “ (FIP). Mr. Windom pulled together a group of the coalition members to plan and host the 1st conference. In 2010, David S. Cressy, J.D. wrote a document supporting the development of the Re-entry Advisory Council for the State of Louisiana, submitting it to the Department of Corrections. He states “The job of the Louisiana Reentry Advisory Council is to work with DPS&C, the Sentencing Commission and the Legislature to develop innovative programs that will address the needs and assess the risks of all state inmates.” These two men both felt the need to address the reentry challenges facing our state.