Louisiana parole panel hears dozens of rehearings; most requests denied, one medical parole granted

The Louisiana Committee on Parole heard a full docket of revocation and parole rehearings in Baton Rouge and at remote correctional sites on Nov. 13. The panel continued one revocation for a full mental-health evaluation and generally denied rehearings where victims or law enforcement registered opposition; it granted a single medical parole with conditions and monitoring.

At the start of the morning, the panel conducted a revocation hearing for Clifford Owen. The chair found the answers on Owen’s parole-revocation questionnaire indicated he was not eligible for appointed counsel but noted the inmate later said he did not understand what he had signed and claimed prior mental-health evaluations in California. The panel voted to continue the revocation and to refer Owen for a formal FICC mental-health evaluation and possible appointment of counsel.

Several medical-parole requests were heard. For Peter John Ducre, DOC medical staff described multiple strokes, severe left-sided weakness and extensive daily care needs; staff said he had required a feeding tube at one point and currently needed full assistance with transfers. Family and victim relatives were on record opposing release. After an executive session the panel denied Ducre’s medical-parole request by a 2–1 vote, citing concerns about placement and public-safety supervision.

In contrast, the panel granted medical parole for G.W. Mitchell, whose medical records showed significant mobility and neurological issues and who had been housed in a skilled-nursing unit. The panel’s vote included standard conditions and a requirement that the receiving facility report to probation and update the board on Mitchell’s status.

Multiple rehearings of standard parole requests were denied after the board weighed the nature of the original offenses, the offender’s criminal history and victim and law-enforcement opposition. Cases heard and their recorded outcomes included denials for Carol David Senior, Daniel Steiner, Michael Alexander, Farnell Jones, Kelvin Thomas and Roy Manasco. In several hearings board members commended rehabilitative programming completed inside prison while saying the gravity of the underlying crimes and strong victim opposition made release inappropriate now.

The panel repeatedly emphasized that parole or medical-parole placements require an appropriate receiving facility and routine probation monitoring. For denied applicants, members typically encouraged continued participation in programming and reapplication at the next eligible opportunity.

Votes at a glance: Peter John Ducre — medical parole denied (2–1); G.W. Mitchell — medical parole granted (conditions and facility reporting required); Clifford Owen — revocation hearing continued pending full mental-health evaluation and counsel; Carol David Senior, Daniel Steiner, Michael Alexander, Farnell Jones, Kelvin Thomas, Roy Manasco — parole denied (panel votes recorded in each rehearing).