There are many alternatives available to conventional sentences. I would consider these alternatives only in cases where the offender is non-violent, and it has been proven that the offender poses no danger to the public. These alternatives have two goals in mind: rehabilitation of offender and reducing the over-all cost of incarceration to tax-payers. Various alternatives, such as Home Monitoring, Day Reporting, Work-Release, and Half-way Houses require the defendant to work throughout the day and pay family obligations while still being punished for their crime. These programs should closely monitor the defendant, and should incorporate counseling, job-skills development, rehabilitation, drug-testing, and community service as well as punishment for their crimes. The defendant bears the financial burden of these programs, rather than the tax-payers by paying the cost of his own supervision. The defendant’s family is still able to receive the financial support at home from his continued employment.

The position for which I am a candidate, Division M, District Judge, of the 15th Judicial District Court, is a Family Court seat by order of the Louisiana Supreme Court and by vote of the Judges of the 15th J. D. C. As such, the Family Court Judge does not ordinarily impose sentences. The Family Court Judge can hold parties in contempt of Court orders and in certain instances may impose jail time.

Alternatives to jail time in Family Court exist but must be utilized : any person who fails to pay child support may have any license suspended, i.e. a driver’s license, license to practice law, any professional license, fishing or hunting licenses.

The single most important issue facing the judiciary is the public’s perception of the judicial system. The media and the public, too often, has a negative perception of the court system, rather than seeing it as a place to peacefully resolve conflict and receive real lasting justice. I believe that we have the best system in the world. I want to change the negative perception and provide our community with a court that listens to the parties and provides a forum that allows people to get the justice they deserve. The solution will be realized one case at a time, with a judge who is educated, respectful, fair to all parties, and who conducts herself in a proper judicial manner. My solution is to create the best and most efficient Family Court that people can respect.

The single most important issue that is facing the local judiciary is not having a constitutionally created or legislatively created Family Court. I believe that Family Court is VERY important because Judges must be specialized in this area of law and must like this area of law. Currently, Family Court exists by order of the Louisiana Supreme Court and by Order of the judges in the 15th Judicial District Court. A vote of the local judges could disband Family Court. The solution to this problem is to ask our local legislative delegation to introduce legislation to ensure that Family Court is protected.

The future of the Louisiana prison system is a system that understands that a single model of using prison for punishment alone is no longer feasible. The crime rates indicate that simply incarcerating all offenders is not going to curb the increasing crime rate. The public no longer sees building more prisons as a feasible solution. The rehabilitation component of incarceration is necessary to avoid repeat offenders. The prison system can only afford to house the most serious offenders, and needs to have room to house the short term offenders. Intensive rehabilitation programs for those individuals that are initially convicted of non-violent offenses are an important component of prison life which allows a defendant to learn behavior-modification through various programs, and job-skills to move back into society as productive citizens.

I see our prison system overcrowded in the future unless alternatives to imprisonment are explored.
Family Court does not have direct contact with the Louisiana prison system and as a Family Law Attorney my experience does not provide direct insight into the future of the prison system. However, a strong consistent Family Court helps children of broken families by ordering counseling or other help where needed so that children can understand their emotions and not get “lost” in the divorce process.

Children who get “lost” in the divorce process sometimes end up in juvenile court and later in life may contribute to the further overcrowding of our prison system