BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) — A new Louisiana law signed by Gov. Jeff Landry makes unauthorized public camping a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine and up to six months in jail, but local officials say key questions about how the law will be enforced remain unanswered.
The penalties in the new law take effect Jan. 1. Those who agree to enter a diversion program through a homeless court and complete all the steps can have those charges dismissed, but that court has not yet been established.
The diversion program would be geared toward mental health and substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, employment services, and probationary supervision. Those specifics would be decided by local governments.
‘Intent is good,’ DA says, but logistics raise concerns
East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said he supports the goal of the legislation but has questions about its implementation…