Early-release window could double to 120 days for terminally ill inmates

Published: April 1, 2026

By: Izzy Wollfarth, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE – A House committee voted 7-0 to advance a bill Tuesday that would allow terminally ill inmates to be released up to 120 days before their expected death, doubling the current 60-day window for early release.

Under the current statute, considerations for early release apply only in situations where death is expected within 60 days of diagnosis or if a person is incapacitated.

Rep. Jerome Zeringue, R-Houma, who sponsored the bill, said he remains in support of tough- on-crime bills. He said extending the early release threshold to 120 days would allow the

Department of Corrections to adequately assess and place the individuals in appropriate care upon release.

Read more at WBRZ.