Parole Denied for Calvin Talbert After Panel Split and Family Opposition

The Louisiana Committee on Parole denied parole for Calvin Talbert, a juvenile lifer, after reviewing his record, hearing family and Parole Project support and listening to opposition from members of the victim’s family.

Calvin Talbert told the panel he was 17 at the time of the offense and described steps he has taken toward rehabilitation, including earning a GED, programming in substance-abuse and anger-management curricula, and work assignments as a trustee and carpenter. Support speakers included his cousin Eric Mack, a friend Terrence Winn and Carrie Myers of the Louisiana Parole Project, all of whom described Talbert’s growth and offered housing and job prospects. The Parole Project told the panel it would provide long-term support and reentry services if Talbert were released.

Opposition testimony came from members of the victim’s family, who described ongoing trauma and said life sentences reflected the gravity of the offense. Panel members questioned Talbert about a disciplinary incident in February 2017 that led to a lengthy administrative sanction; Talbert said he had learned from the episode and rebuilt his record since then.

The panel’s recorded votes: one member voted to deny; at least one member voted to grant under a Parole Project transitional plan with conditions (no contact with the Liberto family, restricted travel to Caddo Parish and community-service requirements). The committee’s final action was to deny parole at this time; members advised Talbert of the reasons and the possibility of future hearings after additional time in custody.

The panel documented required no-contact conditions with the Liberto family if any future release is considered and encouraged Talbert to continue community-focused programs.