As we enter 2024 and transition to new state leadership in Louisiana, politicians have lodged criticisms against Gov. John Bel Edwards over his exercise of authority to commute or pardon people who are incarcerated. We at the Promise of Justice Initiative challenge the disingenuous outrage by some elected officials and urge leadership from Edwards in the final days of his term.
The authority of a governor to bestow mercy during their time in office is a time-honored tradition that recognizes the humanity of people and rights wrongs when the legal system cannot. In Louisiana, the governor does not wield this authority independently. The Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole must first review and recommend a person’s application to the governor for consideration. This is not an easy bar to overcome. The Board grants pardons for many reasons: because they see evidence of innocence, significant rehabilitation, prosecutors bent the rules or simply because decades in prison was punishment enough.
Edwards has granted dozens of commutations and pardons. A great act of deserved mercy. Many more applications with recommendations from the Board await his signature. Those who have gained freedom are reuniting with their families, healing, and enriching our community in tremendous ways. Beasy Taylor, for example, was commuted by Edwards in 2020. Ms. Taylor was incarcerated for 23 years after defending herself from the man who was abusing her. Since gaining freedom, Ms. Taylor has tirelessly advocated for justice for other survivors of violence who continue to be incarcerated. Ms. Taylor’s advocacy is fueled by knowing that her clemency was rare and that other criminalized survivors of violence should not be put in the position of having to choose between prison or death.
One of PJI’s clients served over 40 years in prison for a crime he committed as a child. Within weeks of release, he began working full-time as an electrician, including most weekends. He supports his aging mother, adds to the fabric and economy of our community, and has grown significantly since he was convicted. When the board and the governor give people a second chance, we all win.
Despite the outcry from self-interested political figures, Edwards has not run wild using his clemency authority. The governor leaves behind more than 50 people on death row. In June 2023, 56 people on death row made the historic move to seek commutation to life in prison. Louisiana has an unconscionable 82% reversal rate on death convictions due to prosecutorial misconduct, innocence claims, and a host of problems in Louisiana’s criminal law system. Similarly hysterical opposition arose from Gov.-elect Jeff Landry and district attorneys who made an unprecedented effort to interfere in the clemency process. In September, Edwards had the authority to redirect his board after Landry’s interference but did not. No applications from death row were ever even reviewed.
Louisiana is a world leader in incarceration. Mass incarceration has not led to increased safety or quality of life as a tradeoff. Rather, Louisiana’s policies and practices have forever harmed families, communities, and our potential – it has fundamentally tainted the soul of the state. Given Louisiana’s history of harm, track record of prosecutorial misconduct, and unreliable conviction rates, commutation and pardons are an ethical and moral form of mercy that Louisiana should value, take seriously, and readily embrace. Politicians who resort to hysteria and fearmongering over granting pardons and commutations only dehumanize incarcerated people and ensure Louisiana remains stuck in a damaging status quo.
As we enter the final days of his governorship, there are dozens more incarcerated people with favorable recommendations from the Board who wait for Edwards’ signature. The governor has the great opportunity to change people’s lives forevermore. Our hope for this governor is that he honors the rare recommendations from his board, recognizes the growth and healing of the many people that we put behind bars, and embraces the awesome power to create freedom and to right wrongs.
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Opinion: As Gov. Edwards leaves office, he should bestow mercy
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As we enter 2024 and transition to new state leadership in Louisiana, politicians have lodged criticisms against Gov. John Bel Edwards over his exercise of authority to commute or pardon people who are incarcerated. We at the Promise of Justice Initiative challenge the disingenuous outrage by some elected officials and urge leadership from Edwards in the final days of his term.
The authority of a governor to bestow mercy during their time in office is a time-honored tradition that recognizes the humanity of people and rights wrongs when the legal system cannot. In Louisiana, the governor does not wield this authority independently. The Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole must first review and recommend a person’s application to the governor for consideration. This is not an easy bar to overcome. The Board grants pardons for many reasons: because they see evidence of innocence, significant rehabilitation, prosecutors bent the rules or simply because decades in prison was punishment enough.
Edwards has granted dozens of commutations and pardons. A great act of deserved mercy. Many more applications with recommendations from the Board await his signature. Those who have gained freedom are reuniting with their families, healing, and enriching our community in tremendous ways. Beasy Taylor, for example, was commuted by Edwards in 2020. Ms. Taylor was incarcerated for 23 years after defending herself from the man who was abusing her. Since gaining freedom, Ms. Taylor has tirelessly advocated for justice for other survivors of violence who continue to be incarcerated. Ms. Taylor’s advocacy is fueled by knowing that her clemency was rare and that other criminalized survivors of violence should not be put in the position of having to choose between prison or death.
One of PJI’s clients served over 40 years in prison for a crime he committed as a child. Within weeks of release, he began working full-time as an electrician, including most weekends. He supports his aging mother, adds to the fabric and economy of our community, and has grown significantly since he was convicted. When the board and the governor give people a second chance, we all win.
Despite the outcry from self-interested political figures, Edwards has not run wild using his clemency authority. The governor leaves behind more than 50 people on death row. In June 2023, 56 people on death row made the historic move to seek commutation to life in prison. Louisiana has an unconscionable 82% reversal rate on death convictions due to prosecutorial misconduct, innocence claims, and a host of problems in Louisiana’s criminal law system. Similarly hysterical opposition arose from Gov.-elect Jeff Landry and district attorneys who made an unprecedented effort to interfere in the clemency process. In September, Edwards had the authority to redirect his board after Landry’s interference but did not. No applications from death row were ever even reviewed.
Louisiana is a world leader in incarceration. Mass incarceration has not led to increased safety or quality of life as a tradeoff. Rather, Louisiana’s policies and practices have forever harmed families, communities, and our potential – it has fundamentally tainted the soul of the state. Given Louisiana’s history of harm, track record of prosecutorial misconduct, and unreliable conviction rates, commutation and pardons are an ethical and moral form of mercy that Louisiana should value, take seriously, and readily embrace. Politicians who resort to hysteria and fearmongering over granting pardons and commutations only dehumanize incarcerated people and ensure Louisiana remains stuck in a damaging status quo.
As we enter the final days of his governorship, there are dozens more incarcerated people with favorable recommendations from the Board who wait for Edwards’ signature. The governor has the great opportunity to change people’s lives forevermore. Our hope for this governor is that he honors the rare recommendations from his board, recognizes the growth and healing of the many people that we put behind bars, and embraces the awesome power to create freedom and to right wrongs.
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Samantha Kennedy
Samantha Kennedy is the Executive Director of the Promise of Justice Initiative. She has lived in New Orleans for almost two decades. Samantha is an attorney, mitigation specialist, and a racial justice... More by Samantha Kennedy