Re-Imagining Public Safety Through Support, Advocacy & Accountability
Our Mission
The East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Reform Coalition advances solutions and works collaboratively with criminal justice coalitions to reduce mass incarceration and uphold the basic human rights of those incarcerated at the Parish Prison and their families. The District Attorney’s office holds enormous power in plea negotiations—power that is too often used to coerce guilty pleas and drive mass incarceration. Our new analysis breaks down how this hidden abuse of discretion plays out in East Baton Rouge Parish and what it means for your family’s rights The District Attorney’s Role In Plea Bargain Abuse. We pursue change through education, advocacy, transparency, and accountability.
We believe that only those who truly pose a risk should be incarcerated, and that facilities must be safe for both workers and those under state control. Looking for a direct way to support incarcerated people? Our new guide on How to Start a Letter-Writing Campaign for Incarcerated Individuals breaks down the simple steps to launch a letter-writing campaign that brings connection and dignity. Incarcerated individuals must be treated as human beings.
Our Demands
Reporting: We call on the EBR Parish Prison to report ALL incidents of injury or death of those held at the facility.
Transparency: We call on the EBR Parish Prison to regularly post ALL incidents of injury or death publicly.
Public Oversight: We call for the creation of a citizens' review board of the EBR Parish Prison.
Engagement: We call for regular meetings between the Coalition and Metro Council Members.
Sign the PetitionsTake Action
Get Involved
Join the coalition, attend community meetings, and lend your voice to the movement for prison reform in East Baton Rouge Parish.
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Become a Member
Strengthen our coalition by becoming an official member. Your participation fuels our advocacy for transparency and accountability.
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Stay Informed
Read the latest news coverage, watch videos of our advocacy in action, and stay up to date on coalition events and initiatives.
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Change begins when communities demand accountability. Stand with us in the fight for transparency, dignity, and justice at EBR Parish Prison.
Join the CoalitionRecent News
Prison reform coalition pushes for changes inside EBR jail
Coverage of the coalition's efforts to secure reporting and transparency commitments from East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
Prison reform coalition pushing for changes inside EBR jail
WAFB reports on the coalition's demands for incident reporting and public oversight at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
Coalition calls for accountability at EBR Parish Prison
Reporting on the coalition's advocacy for a citizens' review board and regular engagement with Metro Council Members.
Read our latest feature explaining why jail is no substitute for mental health care: Why Jail Is No Substitute for Mental Health Care. The East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Reform Coalition is built on the conviction that public safety and human dignity are not competing values but complementary ones. Our work centers on re-imagining what safety looks like when communities are engaged, transparent, and accountable. We collaborate with criminal justice coalitions, local advocates, and concerned citizens to push for meaningful reform at the Parish Prison. Through education and advocacy, we challenge the assumption that incarceration is the default answer to every challenge, and we champion alternatives that prioritize rehabilitation, reentry, and the restoration of constitutional liberties for those who are housed in our facilities.
Transparency is a cornerstone of our mission. We believe the public has a right to know what happens inside the Parish Prison, how those in custody are treated, and whether conditions meet humane standards. Our coalition regularly calls for oversight mechanisms, including citizen review boards and public reporting on incidents and injuries within the facility. We advocate for facilities that are safe for both workers and those under state control, and we press for accountability when those standards fall short. By demanding openness from local officials and the Metro Council, we help ensure that the treatment of incarcerated individuals remains a visible public priority.
We recognize that mass incarceration does not end at the jailhouse door. Reentry barriers trap individuals long after they have served their time, limiting access to housing, employment, and the basic rights of citizenship. Our coalition works to reduce those barriers and to support families who carry the burden of a loved one's incarceration. We host regular meetings, public forums, and educational events that bring together advocates, leaders, and community members to imagine a safer, more just parish. Through membership, petitions, and civic engagement, we give ordinary people a meaningful role in shaping the future of criminal justice in East Baton Rouge.
Our vision is one of minimal incarceration used only for those who truly pose a risk to public safety. We advocate for a system that treats every person humanely, provides meaningful pathways back into society, and refuses to accept the status quo simply because it is familiar. While critics may dismiss prison reform as unrealistic, our coalition stands firm in its commitment to constitutional rights, humane treatment, and genuine accountability. We invite residents across the parish to join us in this work, whether through donations, volunteering, or simply showing up to meetings and making their voices heard. Together, we can build a justice system worthy of the community it serves.