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Parole board grants medical parole to Keith Jones after board hears medical testimony and victim-opposition
Summary
The Committee on Parole granted medical parole to Keith Jones (DOC 104707) after medical testimony that he is permanently disabled from a brain-stem stroke and a prosecutor urged denial citing the gravity of the underlying crimes; board members voted to grant with conditions that he return to custody if his condition improves.
The Committee on Parole granted medical parole to Keith Jones (DOC 104707), finding he is medically incapacitated and not a present risk to public safety.
At a hearing at Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola), the panel viewed a recorded interview with Jones and heard medical testimony from a nurse practitioner, Kyle Hargroeder, who reported that Jones had sustained a brain-stem stroke and had persistent left-sided weakness, speech difficulty and swallowing problems. Hargroeder said Jones could not recover full function and would require assistance for walking longer distances and for some activities of daily living.
Sam McKay, health director at the penitentiary, and nursing staff described Jones's needs; staff said family was unlikely to be able to provide full-time care. Edward McGowan, an assistant from the Orleans Parish district attorney's office, registered opposition and urged the board to consider the gravity of Jones's original crimes and victim trauma. McGowan asked the panel to weigh the broader public-safety implications and the message exceptions to life sentences can send to victims.
After an executive-session deliberation the panel returned to open session. Acting Chair Pete Freeman described the case as —tough— but said Jones was —totally disabled— and unlikely to be a threat to public safety. Freeman's vote was to grant medical parole; the other two panelists concurred. The board recorded its decision to grant medical parole and specified that if Jones's condition improves, he would be returned to DOC custody.
The panel instructed probation and facility staff to monitor Jones in approved placement and to report any indications of improvement that would require his return to custody.
