All IMPACT candidates are reviewed extensively to ensure that they meet the eligibility requirements of the statute as well as the suitability requirements set forth by the DPS&C. Offenders convicted under R.S. 14:02 (13) citing enumerated Crimes of Violence are prohibited from entry into the program.

The IMPACT program saves the state $1,068,000 for every 100 offenders that complete the program. Over the program's history, this translates into an allowance of over $25 million in operating funds, and $30 million in construction cost for approximately 700 cells to house truly long-term, violent, preying type criminals. Approximately 35% of the trainees entering the IMPACT Program will not complete it. The program is designed to eliminate individuals who are not receptive to the commitment to accept responsibility for and change their past lifestyles and value systems.

The IMPACT Program is a two-part program. The intensive incarceration phase includes strict discipline, physical exertion, community service hours and most importantly several rehabilitative therapeutic regimes in substance abuse, value reorientation, self-discipline and responsibility, Moral Reconation Therapy, parenting, basic life skills and education. IMPACT offenders participate in the incarceration phase for a minimum of 6 months. Once the incarceration phase is complete, the offenders are recommended for parole to one of three options: an approved residence plan, a residential substance abuse treatment facility or a work release center. All trainees enter into an intensive parole phase lasting a minimum of six (6) months and then continue on to regular parole supervision under Louisiana Probation and Parole until their full term date expires.

The DPS&C was awarded Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) grant funds to enhance the substance abuse component of the IMPACT Program. In addition to 600 hours of other forms of rehabilitative treatment, each trainee will receive in excess of 300 hours of substance abuse treatment within the six-month program. Substance abuse programming, for trainees who need follow-up treatment, is provided through community residential units on a statewide basis by the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

In addition, each participant is provided aftercare services through community resources on an individualized basis, as well as offered assistance with job placement prior to his/her release. Staff with the Education Department work with trainees, family members, and potential employers to help the trainees find employment in the study field (automotive technology, serv-safe, carpentry, welding, computer technology, cabling electronics). IMPACT Classification and the IMPACT social work staff work with the Office of Addictive Disorders in placing trainees in residential treatment facilities for those trainees who need continued intervention.

In May of 1995, the Job Skills Education Program (JSEP) was incorporated into the treatment phase of I.M.P.A.C.T. This is a self-motivated computer based instructional program that has in excess of 220 job prescriptions including GED and College Preparation prescriptions. To date, we have awarded 753 GED Diplomas to trainees in the program and 4302 certificates for various JSEP prescriptions successfully completed. A fast-track shipfitting/welding vocational component was initiated in June 1998 to provide trainees with 200 hours of training. The class has evolved into a 330 hour program. In 2005, we added a Carpentry program. In 2006, we added a Culinary Serv-Safe Certification training program. Serv-Safe Certification is a credential earned through the National Restaurant Association. To date, 811 trainees have completed the welding/shipfitting component; 331 have successfully completed the Computer & Cabling Technology program; and 260 trainees have completed Automotive Technology, 108 have completed Carpentry, and 74 have completed the Serv-Safe class. In 2004, Computer and Cabling Technology students started earning "Fiber Optic Installer" certification through the Electronics Technicians Association. The ETA is an internationally recognized credentialing organization. Beginning in 2005, all IMPACT trainees in the Welding / Shipfitting program and the Carpentry program began earning credits from the National Consortium for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), which maintains a national database of certified construction competencies.

Approximately 34% of the trainees entering the IMPACT Program will not complete it. The program is designed to eliminate individuals who are not receptive to the commitment to accept responsibility for and change their past lifestyles and value systems.

Research done by the National Institute of Justice has shown that the inmates who do recidivate have done so for technical violations as opposed to committing additional offenses. As of December 31, 2006, total recidivism for the 2003 IMPACT graduates indicate that 65% are still living successfully in the community, while 70% of the 2004 graduates remain in the community. Over 84% of the 2005 IMPACT graduates are still in the community, compared to 74% of general population offenders. We look forward to a continued decrease in our recidivism rates as our treatment, educational and faith based programs continue to evolve to meet the needs of the offenders assigned to the program.

Another tribute to our success with this program is the fact that the Louisiana Legislature approved $880,000 in additional funding to allow for this program to be expanded. As a result, another IMPACT program was implemented in North Louisiana at Forcht Wade Correctional Center in October, 2001.

" Louisiana's IMPACT Program has been nationally recognized as a model correctional program and a "Best Practice" by the American Correctional Association. It also received positive national attention as a feature story on MSNBC's "MSNBC Investigates" series.