Louisiana Parole Board hears multiple clemency requests; recommends one commutation and four pardons, denies several others

The Louisiana Board of Pardons and Parole met Oct. 20, 2025, in a series of remote and in-person hearings across multiple correctional facilities and considered more than a dozen clemency applications, including commutation requests, pardons and restoration of firearms rights. The board voted to recommend one commutation to the governor, approved four pardons (three including restoration of firearms rights) and denied multiple other applications.

Why it matters: Decisions by the Board of Pardons and Parole are recommendations to the governor; pardons and restorations of firearms rights have legal and practical consequences for applicants’ ability to work, live and travel without long-term collateral consequences of past convictions.

Most notable outcomes - Michael Jackson (DOC 358336) — The board voted to recommend a commutation of Jackson’s life sentence to 99 years with immediate parole eligibility. The board recorded four votes in favor and one against. - Charles Bailey (Baker) — The board voted to recommend a pardon with restoration of firearms rights. Board members cited post‑release employment, steady family ties and 22 years without a new conviction. - Patricia Brown — The board voted to recommend a pardon with restoration of firearms rights after reviewing a 1995 possession conviction and subsequent employment and community service history. - Chad (Chad L.) Broussard — The board voted to recommend a pardon with restoration of firearms rights; supporters described long-term community service and church leadership. - “Chase” (first name on file) — The board recommended a pardon but without restoration of firearms rights; the panel cited the applicant’s recent sobriety and rehabilitation record but withheld firearms restoration pending more time in recovery.

Other decisions - Denied commutation or pardon: The board denied clemency requests for several long‑term incarcerated applicants, including Michael Pagan (DOC 362262), Hayward Prevost (DOC 128237), Carl Jackson (DOC 103095), Bobby Clark (LCIW DOC 156918), Darien Miles (DOC 455785) and Ricky Grider (DOC number on file). Denials were commonly grounded in law‑enforcement or victim opposition, incomplete program records, criminal history, or questions about the applicant’s candor about the offense. Where vote tallies were stated at the hearing the board recorded majorities of four-to-zero or similar denials.

What the board said and did not do - The board repeatedly distinguished recommendation vs. release: members emphasized that a favorable vote is a recommendation to the governor and does not itself release an applicant. Several members explained that a successful recommendation typically needs demonstrable, sustained rehabilitation and community support. - Law enforcement and victims’ families spoke in opposition at multiple hearings; board members said they weighed victim statements heavily when casting votes.

Supporting detail and patterns - Rehabilitative programming: The board cited completion of educational and behavior programs (GED, anger management, victim awareness, substance‑use programs) when explaining favorable votes; lack of recent programming or limited evidence of participation was cited in several denials. - Family and community support: Applicants who received favorable recommendations typically had multiple speakers offering housing, employment or ongoing mentoring through reentry organizations such as the Louisiana Parole Project. - Firearms restoration: The board split on firearms restoration in several cases. In some pardons the board recommended restoration of firearms rights (three cases), in at least one case it recommended a pardon but withheld firearms rights pending further time or conditions.

What happens next - Governor’s review: All favorable recommendations go to the governor’s office for final action. A recommendation from the board is advisory; the governor may sign, modify or deny the recommendation. - Parole process: Several applicants who received denials were advised to pursue additional programming, obtain documentation of sobriety or education and re-apply; some were told they remain eligible for parole hearings at later dates.

The board’s Oct. 20 docket covered applications from multiple state correctional facilities and included public testimony from victims’ relatives, institutional staff, parole‑support organizations and applicants’ families. The board repeatedly asked applicants to describe rehabilitation steps taken since the criminal events that led to incarceration or conviction.

Ending note: The Board’s recommendations will be forwarded to the governor for final decisions; several cases will remain on the board’s future dockets where applicants were encouraged to complete additional programs or documentation before reapplication.