According to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the average cost of incarcerating an inmate in the state is approximately $25,000 per year. This includes the cost of housing, food, medical care, and security. For an inmate who serves a life sentence, the total cost of incarceration can therefore be quite significant.
In addition to the direct costs of incarceration, there are also indirect costs to consider, such as the loss of productivity and the impact on the inmate's family and community. The total cost of a life sentence is therefore a complex issue that is difficult to quantify.