Committee on Parole grants parole to Dorella Johnson, imposes substance‑abuse evaluation
Loading...
Summary
The Committee on Parole voted unanimously March 2, 2026, to grant parole to Dorella Johnson, a first-felony offender serving a 40-year sentence, conditioned on a substance‑abuse evaluation and any recommended treatment.
Ferrell Renata, chairman of the Committee on Parole, announced March 2 that the five-member panel granted parole to Dorella Johnson (DOC #439966), who is serving a 40-year sentence for two counts of armed robbery and attempted first‑degree murder. The board voted unanimously, 5–0, and attached a special condition requiring a substance‑abuse evaluation and adherence to any recommended treatment.
The decision came after members reviewed Johnson's record and rehabilitative progress. Jerry LeDoux, the member assigned to the case, noted Johnson had accumulated “over 500 good time days,” earned a bachelor's degree and a welding trade, and had no disciplinary write‑ups since 2018. LeDoux said Johnson had completed substantial programming and had a residence arranged with his parents in Kenner, Louisiana.
"The most impactful class for me was victim impact," Johnson told the panel, saying the class "gave me enlightenment and helped me understand the victim's point of view." James Levine, who identified himself as a friend and employer, told the board Johnson "took his welding trade very, very seriously" and described staff willingness to favor him for employment after release.
Assistant District Attorney Randall Myers of Jefferson Parish opposed parole, saying he was "having a hard time reconciling" Johnson's institutional record with the seriousness of the offense, and citing that Johnson had shot at police officers in the underlying case. Myers said he would maintain opposition on that basis even while acknowledging the inmate's recent conduct in prison.
Panel members weighed those objections against Johnson's institutional record and support network. Member Chuck Tellis and Member Steve Prater said they believed Johnson had "turned a corner" based on his conduct and programming. Member Pete Freeman, who voted to grant, said he wanted a substance‑abuse evaluation and treatment to be added as a condition. Chair Renata announced the grant and wished Johnson luck.
The hearing was held at Elaine Hunt Correctional Center with Warden Travis Dade and classification staff present to answer questions. The committee recorded Johnson's parole eligibility date as 06/08/2023 and his good‑time release date as 12/02/2033. The board did not specify an exact release date; the grant is contingent on fulfilling the board's conditions and any standard DOC release processing.
