Changes

In 2017, Sheriff Prator opposed [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]]'s planned release of state prisoners, a move also endorsed by the Louisiana District Attorneys Association as well as bipartisan members of the legislature. Practor said the release would increase violent crime in Caddo Parish. "I wasn't elected to rehabilitate people. There needs to be more done before this law takes effect," Prator said.  The ''[[New York Times]]'' accused the sheriff of [[racism]] because he also described certain state prisoners as "bad" and those in parish prisons as "good" because they often perform trusty-type roles. In addition to the parish prisoners, the Caddo Parish Correctional Center houses inmates for the Louisiana Department of Corrections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2017/10/12/caddo-sheriff-prator-criticized-racist-remarks/759863001/|title=Caddo Sheriff Prator criticized for 'racist' remarks|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=October 12, 2017|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref>

In 2017, Sheriff Prator opposed [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]]'s planned release of state prisoners, a move also endorsed by the Louisiana District Attorneys Association as well as bipartisan members of the legislature. Practor said the release would increase violent crime in Caddo Parish. "I wasn't elected to rehabilitate people. There needs to be more done before this law takes effect," Prator said.  The ''[[New York Times]]'' accused the sheriff of [[racism]] because he also described certain state prisoners as "bad" and those in parish prisons as "good" because they often perform trusty-type roles. In addition to the parish prisoners, the Caddo Parish Correctional Center houses inmates for the Louisiana Department of Corrections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2017/10/12/caddo-sheriff-prator-criticized-racist-remarks/759863001/|title=Caddo Sheriff Prator criticized for 'racist' remarks|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=October 12, 2017|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref>

On May 16, 2018, Prator presided over a public meeting to seek consensus on how to curb the rising crime rate in Shreveport. "We've got a lot of crime here. We've got a lot of violence here. And just because the numbers might be up or down a little bit, if you put them all together, this is a dangerous place, at times," Prator said.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/sheriff-steve-prator-says-shreveport-is-a-dangerous-place-at-times/|title=Sheriff Steve Prator says Shreveport is a dangerous place at time|publisher=KEEL Radio|accessdate=May 16, 2018}}</ref>

On May 16, 2018, Prator presided over a public meeting to seek consensus on how to curb the rising crime rate in Shreveport. "We've got a lot of crime here. We've got a lot of violence here. And just because the numbers might be up or down a little bit, if you put them all together, this is a dangerous place, at times," Prator said.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/sheriff-steve-prator-says-shreveport-is-a-dangerous-place-at-times/|title=Sheriff Steve Prator says Shreveport is a dangerous place at times|publisher=KEEL Radio|accessdate=May 16, 2018}}</ref>

In August 2018, Prator again criticized Governor John Bel Edwards' early release of numerous state prisoners under the "Justice Reinvestment Program." According to Prator, several crimes that he considers violent are now classified as non-violent. He also objects to the reduction in penalties for several violent offenses, including "a home invasion with a weapon." What earlier meant a five-year minimum sentence regarding a home invasion, the Edwards changes allow a one-year minimum sentence, followed by the offer of [[probation]] to the offender.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/sheriff-steve-prator-highly-critical-of-prison-reform-efforts/|title=Sheriff Steve Prator highly critical of prison-reform efforts|publisher=KEEL Radio|accessdate=August 22, 2018}}</ref>  

In August 2018, Prator again criticized Governor John Bel Edwards' early release of numerous state prisoners under the "Justice Reinvestment Program." According to Prator, several crimes that he considers violent are now classified as non-violent. He also objects to the reduction in penalties for several violent offenses, including "a home invasion with a weapon." What earlier meant a five-year minimum sentence regarding a home invasion, the Edwards changes allow a one-year minimum sentence, followed by the offer of [[probation]] to the offender.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/sheriff-steve-prator-highly-critical-of-prison-reform-efforts/|title=Sheriff Steve Prator highly critical of prison-reform efforts|publisher=KEEL Radio|accessdate=August 22, 2018}}</ref>