One of the rising stars in Louisiana politics, State Rep. Julie Emerson (R-Carencro), has received an award from the Coalition for Public Safety for her work in passing a package of criminal justice reform legislation this year. The package was signed into law by Governor John Bel Edwards.
The 10 bill package dealt with everything from expanding parole and probation to helping prisoners reenter the workforce upon release. Emerson wrote the legislation, that was signed into law, dealing with prisoner reentry into the workforce.
“The work Julie Emerson is doing to make life after prison easier for released individuals in Louisiana is a crucial step toward a more just system. Louisiana has long stood out as the ‘nation’s largest incarcerator’ and Representative Emerson offers a fresh new perspective to bipartisan reform efforts. We are proud to honor her as our July Champion of Justice Reform, and we are excited to partner with her as her vital work continues.” said Coalition President Steven Hawkins in a statement.
The Coalition for Public Safety is made up of both conservative and progressive organizations that work together on criminal justice reform issues. Every month they profile a Champion of Justice Reform who “demonstrated exceptional leadership and perseverance in pushing for smart-on-crime policies.”
State Rep. Julie Emerson is serving her first term in the Louisiana legislature, having been elected in 2015.