Parole panel conditionally grants parole to Ricky Thomas with six‑month work‑release step‑down

On April 2 the Committee on Parole granted conditional parole to Ricky Thomas, a 54‑year‑old inmate who appeared before the panel at the DOC headquarters hearing for cases held at Louisiana State Penitentiary. The panel approved parole subject to a six‑month work‑release step‑down and several supervision and program conditions.

Panel members and supporters told the committee Thomas has completed multiple in‑prison programs and that community partners have arranged housing, treatment and employment supports. Kerry Myers of the Louisiana Parole Project told the board the project would provide transitional — and potentially long‑term — housing, mentorship and case management to help Thomas obtain employment. "Should the board grant his parole today, Parole Project will provide him transitional housing," Myers said.

Mick Cleagler, supervisor of client services at Innocence Project New Orleans, described a reentry plan tailored to Thomas’s needs, emphasizing structure, sobriety supports and employment assistance. Cleagler said Thomas has an intellectual disability that affects his literacy and processing but that a plan is in place to meet those needs, including immediate transport to Louisiana Parole Project housing, enrollment in an intensive outpatient program at the Grove Recovery in Baton Rouge, and supportive employment services through Capital Area Human Services.

Caitlin Neuswanger of Innocence Project New Orleans, speaking on Thomas’s behalf, summarized in‑prison progress, noting trustee status and completion of programs including Thinking for a Change, victim awareness, substance‑abuse programming and vocational training. Thomas has not had a disciplinary write‑up since February 2016 and holds Class A trustee status, supporters said.

Committee members acknowledged Thomas’s extensive criminal history and multiple past revocations but said the combination of his institutional record and the community reentry plan supported a conditional grant. Acting Chairman Steve Prater cast the first vote in favor and set a six‑month work‑release requirement as a stepped reentry period; another member agreed. Committee member Danny Barra concurred and added written conditions: Thomas must remain with the Parole Project for a minimum of two years, attend two Alcoholics Anonymous meetings per week, observe a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for the first six months, and perform eight hours of community service per month.

The committee framed the decision as conditional: completion of the six‑month work‑release step down would result in full parole; failure to comply would leave Thomas subject to revocation. The board emphasized supervision and service engagement as measures to reduce recidivism and protect the community.

Thomas was instructed on the conditions and the panel closed the hearing after announcing the unanimous conditional grant.