'Right on Crime' forum discusses community safety and criminal reform

State leaders from "Right on Crime", a national campaign focused on reducing crime and restoring victim rights spent time in Alexandria Thursday morning.

Leaders of the national campaign held an Employer Engagement Forum at CLTCC Thursday morning, open to local businesses and community leaders.

The forum addressed how local businesses can help play a part in keeping our communities safe, and how we can help our local economy by considering hiring people who've previously been incarcerated.

According to 'Right on Crime,' State Director Scott Peyton, 18,000 people are released from prison each year in Louisiana, and about 43 percent return back to prison within five years.

With the help of local employers, Peyton says that number can be greatly reduced by giving criminals a second chance.

"The persons that are returning, the 18,000, you know a majority come here and these are people that we shop with, and live together, go to church together with, they're part of the community," said Peyton. "When they are employed, we reduce that recidivism and in turn we keep our community safer."

This is the first time "Right on Crime" has spoken at CLTCC.

Group panelists and public speakers, including Sheriff-Elect Mark Wood and Volunteers of America's Joshua Blackwell spoke at the forum.

If you'd like more information about the national campaign, you can

.