Introduction
The American criminal justice system is structured in a manner that the accused and sentenced individuals are allowed to enjoy their natural human rights. The criminal justice system is made up of state and federal courts with distinct jurisdictions. People who have been punished are given parole and pardons, which enable them to contribute to society. One of the criminal justice system’s organizations that encourages reformation among Louisiana’s convicted citizens is the Louisiana Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole. This paper explores major observations made on July 13th, 2023, during a parole hearing by the Lousiana Board on Pardons and Committee on Parole.
Observations Made
Parole and pardon hearing follows a specific process that involves planning, pre-parole investigation, hearing, offender appearance, victim participation, and judgment. On July 13th, 2023, the Lousiana Board on Pardons and Committee on Parole conducted the hearings on Zoom. The various cases presented before the Board had satisfied the eligibility criteria as calculated by the Department of Public Safety & Corrections. The department is obligated to provide safe and secure incarceration, effective probation, or parole supervision (Moghimi et al., 2022). Additionally, it helps assist victims of crime intending to create a safer Louisiana. The department had satisfied the replication hearings for Mr. Derek Hughes, but he was absent. The absence of the offenders and miscommunication between the Board and other stakeholders exhibited inefficiencies in the parole and parole process in the State of Louisiana.
Mr. Thomas Bowers Case
While some offenders were absent, others were present, and their cases were heard successfully. One of the productive hearings involved Mr. Thomas Bowers, whose case was heard by a panel of three members: Miss Bonnie Jackson, Miss Pearl, and Mr. Marabella. The latter was the chair of the Board who called the hearing to order (Louisiana Board of Pardon and Parole, 2023).
The offender was the first class one with a parole eligibility date of May 17, 2023. He was serving a 20-year sentence on the charge of vehicular homicide and was sentenced on May 21, 2018. Miss Bonnie Jackson was assigned the case and conducted the parole interview with the offender.
The interviewer, Miss Bonnie Jackson, asked the offender questions that were relevant to his case and that would prove his eligibility for parole. The offender was 49 years old and had already served his sentence of 5 years and 2 months (Louisiana Board of Pardon and Parole, 2023). In support of his parole, Miss Bridget Bowers, Mathew McKee, and Jennifer Brooks spoke for the offender.
In opposition, two individuals made statements against the parole request by the offender. The offender served most of his time at the Dixon Correctional Institution. During his interview, he accepted to have committed the crime while the correctional officer supported his parole. According to the officer, Mr Thomas Bowers was one of the most reformed offenders in his docket.
Mr. Thomas Bowers was denied parole by the panel with three votes, sending him back to the correctional facility. The Board largely relied on public safety and interest in making their decisions. Although the parole request by the offender was unsuccessful, the Board considered all the principles of justice, including fair hearing. Both sides were given ample time to give reasons why they supported or opposed the parole request. Upon carefully considering both parties, the Board denied Mr Thomas Bowers parole but gave him pieces of advice that could help him become a better person in society.
Conclusion
The Louisiana Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole is responsible for pardoning offenders in the State of Louisiana. One of the cases heard by the Board on July 13, 2023, involved Mr. Thomas Bowers, who was charged with vehicular homicide. The offender was interviewed to determine whether he could be granted parole or not. However, he was denied since releasing him would risk other members of the society. While the parole hearing process had several challenges, it led to a fair decision for both parties.
References
Louisiana Board of Pardon and Parole. (2023). July 13- parole hearing. YouTube. Web.
Moghimi, E., Knyahnytska, Y., Omrani, M., Nikjoo, N., Stephenson, C., Layzell, G., Frederic Simpson, A. I., & Alavi, N. (2022). Benefits of digital mental health care interventions for correctional workers and other public safety personnel: A narrative review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13. Web.