The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit against the State of Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (LDOC), alleging a pattern of unlawfully detaining incarcerated individuals long after they have completed their sentences. The lawsuit claims that the state has confined people for weeks or even months beyond their legal release dates, in violation of the 14th Amendment’s protection against unlawful imprisonment.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division emphasized the importance of safeguarding individual liberty, stating, “The right to individual liberty includes the right to be released from incarceration on time after the term set by the court has ended.” She further noted that indefinite confinement without a lawful court order undermines both individual rights and public confidence in the justice system.
This legal action follows a multi-year investigation into systemic overdetention practices within Louisiana’s prison system. The investigation, conducted by the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle, Eastern, and Western Districts of Louisiana, found that the state has consistently failed to release individuals on time after serving their court-mandated sentences.
The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, seeks injunctive relief to address the ongoing constitutional violations. The Justice Department has previously notified the state of its findings, issuing a report on January 25, 2023, outlining the facts and remedial actions needed to resolve the overdetention issue. However, despite some marginal efforts to address the problem, the state has not taken sufficient steps to remedy the systemic issues.
The case is being handled by the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section, along with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Louisiana. The lawsuit does not seek monetary damages but aims to compel the state to make necessary reforms to ensure timely releases of incarcerated individuals.
