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here to preview the clemency application. Forms
are for sample purposes only. Failure to use the forms
provided by the Louisiana Board of Pardons may result
in rejection of the application.
Filing Procedure:
Every application must be submitted on the form approved
by the Board of Pardons and must contain the following
information about the applicant:
· Name
· Prison number [Department of Corrections (DOC #)
document number]
· Date of birth
· Race and sex
· Education (highest level completed)
· Age at time of offense
· Present age
· Offender class
· Place of incarceration
· Parish of conviction/judicial district/court docket
number
· Offense(s) charged, convicted of or plead to
· Parish where offense(s) committed
· Date of sentencing
· Length of sentence
· Time served
· Prior parole or probation
· When and how parole or probation completed
· Prior clemency hearing/recommendation/approval
· Reason for requesting clemency
· Relief request
· Narrative detailing the events surrounding the offense(s)
· Institutional disciplinary reports, number within
the last twelve months, nature and date of the last
violation, and custody status
In addition to the information submitted by application,
the following documents must be attached as they apply
to the applicant:
· Applicants confined in any institution must attach
a current master prison record and time computation/jail
credit work sheet, and have the signature of a classification
officer verifying the conduct of the applicant as set
out in the aforementioned institutional disciplinary
reports and a copy of the conduct report.
· Applicants who have received an Automatic First
Offender Pardon must attach a copy of the Automatic
First Offender Pardon.
The application shall be signed and dated by applicant
and shall contain a prison or mailing address and home
address.
An application must be completed; if any required
information does not apply, the response should be "NA".
No additional information or documents may be submitted
until applicant has been notified that he/she will be
given a hearing. The Board of Pardons will not be responsible
for items submitted prior to notification that a hearing
will be granted.
Any completed application will be considered for hearing
by the Board on the first Tuesday of each month. Should
the first Tuesday fall on a legal holiday the Board
will meet the following Tuesday. The Board shall also
meet at the discretion of the Chairman to transact other
business as deemed necessary.
Applications must be received in the Board of Pardons
office by the 15th of the month to be placed on the
docket for consideration the following month.
Four members of the Board shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business, and all actions of
the Board shall require the favorable vote of at least
four members of the Board.
No application will be considered by the Board until
it deems the application to be complete in accordance
with the rules and procedures in this chapter.
Discretionary Powers of the Board
The Board of Pardons at its discretion may deny any
applicant a hearing for any of the following reasons:
· Serious nature of the offense
· Insufficient time served on sentence
· Proximity of parole/good time date
· Institutional disciplinary reports
· Probation/parole-unsatisfactory/violated
· Past criminal record
· Any other factor determined by the board
Any applicant denied shall be notified in writing
of the reason(s) for denial and thereafter may file
a new application two years from the date of the letter
of denial.
Any fraudulent documents or information submitted
by applicant will result in an automatic denial by the
Board and no new application will be accepted until
four years have elapsed from the date of the letter
of denial.
Contact with the Board of Pardons and Members Prohibited
Contact with the Board of Pardons or any member is
prohibited except by appearing/testifying at a public
hearing or by written letter addressed to the Board
of Pardons. If a Board Member is improperly contacted,
he/she must immediately notify the individual that the
contact is illegal. The letter must be accompanied by
a copy of R.S. 15:573.1, and the contact must be reported
to the other Board Members. Any prohibited contact after
an individual has been informed of the prohibition shall
be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned for not more
than six months or both.
Public Inspection of Letters
Letters in favor of commutation of sentence are subject
to public inspection. Exceptions include letters from
any victim of a crime committed by the applicant being
considered for commutation of sentence or any person
writing on behalf of the victim, and any letters written
in opposition to the commutation of sentence. All letters
written by elected or appointed public officials in
favor of or opposing a commutation of sentence received
after August 15, 1997 are subject to public inspection
and shall be recorded in a central register maintained
by the Board. The register shall contain the name of
the individual whose commutation of sentence is the
subject of the letter, the name of the public official
who is the author of the letter, and the date the letter
was received by the Board.
Hearings Granted
After notice to an applicant that a hearing has been
granted, the applicant must provide the Board of Pardons
office with proof of advertisement within ninety (90)
days from the date of notice to grant a hearing. Advertisement
must be published in the official journal of the parish
where the offense occurred. This ad must state: "I,
(applicant's name), (document number - Department of
Correction number), (state), have applied for clemency
for my conviction for (crime) which occurred (day/month/year),
in (parish/county), (state). If you have any comments
or wish to communicate with the Board of Pardons please
call (225) 342-5421." The advertisement must be published
for three (3) days within a thirty (30) day period without
cost to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections,
Corrections Services, or the Board of Pardons.
Applicant may submit additional information, e.g.
letters of recommendation and copies of certificates
of achievement and employment/residence agreement.
Notice of Public Hearing Dates
After receipt of all documents required, the Board
shall set the matter for public hearing. At least thirty
days prior to the public hearing date, the Board shall
give written notice of the date, time and place to the
following:
· The district attorney and sheriff of the parish
in which the applicant was convicted; and in New Orleans
parish, the superintendent of police
· The applicant
· The victim who has been physically or psychologically
injured by the applicant (if convicted of that offense),
and the victim's spouse or next of kin, unless the injured
victim's spouse or next of kin advises the Board, in
writing, that such notification is not desired
· The spouse or next of kin of a deceased victim when
the offender responsible for the death is the applicant
(if convicted of that offense), unless the spouse or
next of kin advises the Board, in writing, that such
notification is not desired
· The Crime Victims Services Bureau of the Department
of Public Safety and Corrections
· Any other interested person who requests in writing
to the Board of Pardons that they be notified who provides
their name and return address
The district attorney, injured victim, spouse or next
of kin, and any other persons who desire to do so shall
be given a reasonable opportunity to attend the hearing.
The district attorney or his representative, victim,
victim's family, and a victim advocacy group, may appear
before the Board of Pardons by means of telephone communication
from the office of the local district attorney.
Only three persons in favor, to include the applicant
and three in opposition to include the victim/victim's
family member, will be allowed to speak at the hearing.
However, there is no limit on written correspondence
in favor and/or opposition to the applicant's request.
Applicant's failure to attend and/or to notify the
Board of Pardons Office of his/her inability to attend
the hearing will result in an automatic denial. The
applicant may re-apply two years from the date of scheduled
hearing.
Denials by Board after Public Hearing
The Board shall notify the applicant of the denial.
Applicant may submit a new application two years after
the date of denial.
The Board shall terminate the hearing should the applicant
become disorderly, threatening or insolent. Any hearing
terminated due to applicant's disorderly, threatening
or insolent behavior is an automatic denial. The applicant
may reapply four years from the date of hearing.
Denial - No Action Taken by Governor after Favorable
Recommendation
The Board shall notify the applicant after its receipt
of notification that favorable recommendation was denied
or no action was taken by the Governor. Applicant may
submit a new application one year from the date of the
letter of denial or notice of no action.
Governor Grants
The Office of the Governor will notify the applicant
if any clemency is granted. Applicant may submit a new
application for additional relief four years from the
date of granted notice.
Every effort has been made to make this information
accurate and up-to-date. Errors are inevitable and changes
occur frequently. We would appreciate learning of any
errors or inaccuracies regarding any information on
this Webpage as soon as possible. Please write to info@cjpf.org
