RS 15:732: Legislative findings and declaration

The legislature finds that through inmate exercise programs, including karate, judo, and other types of martial arts, inmates are drastically improving their physical strength. The safety of law enforcement and correctional officers who guard and have contact with these inmates on a daily basis is being put at a greater and unnecessary risk. The safety of the public at large, as well as law enforcement personnel, may be put in increased jeopardy or increased physical risk upon an inmate's release because of the released prisoner's enhanced physical condition and training. It is therefore the intent of the legislature, for the protection of the public safety and for the protection of law enforcement and correctional personnel, to prohibit karate, judo, or martial arts programs of any form within jails, prisons, correctional facilities, juvenile facilities, temporary holding centers, halfway houses, or detention centers.