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Parole denied for Dana Cotland; board recommends mental-health evaluation before reconsideration
Summary
Dana Cotland (DOC 368375) was denied parole April 23, 2025; the board recommended mental-health evaluation and treatment after staff reported he had not been seen for psychiatric care and victim and law-enforcement opposition was recorded.
The Committee on Parole denied parole for Dana Cotland, DOC 368375, at an April 23, 2025 hearing held at Riverbend Detention Center and convened at DOC headquarters. Board members recorded strong victim and law-enforcement opposition and expressed concern about Cotland’s untreated mental-health needs.
Cotland’s mother, identified as Loretta, described his prior reentry after an earlier release and said he had engaged in community and church work but later developed post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Cotland told the board he did not remember details of the most recent incident and said he had not been receiving psychiatric medications or seen by a psychiatric doctor while at Riverbend.
Board members noted previous direction in an earlier hearing for Cotland to receive a mental-health evaluation and appropriate treatment and said that follow-up had not occurred. Law-enforcement and victims’ family members filed opposition; the district attorney and sheriff’s office recommended denial and said Cotland had committed violent offenses in the past.
After questioning, the panel voted to deny parole and specifically recommended the department arrange a psychiatric evaluation and any indicated treatment before Cotland’s next appearance before the board.
