Outgoing Louisiana Gov. Edwards pardons 40 convicted murderers

[KARAH RUCKER]

LOUISIANA HAS THE HIGHEST INCARCERATION RATE IN THE COUNTRY AND HAS FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE PRISON POPULATION –
LOUISIANA’S OUTGOING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR HAS ISSUED 56 PARDONS –
40 OF THEM BEING CONVICTED MURDERERS.
IT’S SEEN AS A CONTROVERSIAL MOVE AS THE GOVERNOR WILL BE LEAVING OFFICE IN JANUARY.

IN A SPRINT TO FULFILL A CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO REDUCE THE INCARCERATION RATE IN THE STATE –
GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS HAS ISSUED 56 PARDONS IN HIS LAST 90 DAYS –
WITH POTENTIALLY MORE TO COME IN HIS LAST TWO WEEKS IN OFFICE.
SUPPORTERS OF THE PARDONS POINT TO LOUISIANA’S HIGH IMPRISONMENT RATE BEING A PROBLEM.
THE STATE IS NICKNAMED “THE PRISON CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.”

[JOHN BEL EDWARDS]
“For as long as I can remember, Louisiana reflexively responded to an increase in crime by putting more people in prison and keeping them there longer
We’ve never been made safer as a result of that. There is no data to suggest that an increase in crime here was because of the reforms.”

[KARAH RUCKER]
BUT CRITICS OF THE GOVERNOR’S MOVE SAY **WHO HE IS PARDONING IS A PROBLEM.
OF THE 40 MURDERERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED PARDONS – 11 WERE CONVICTED IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

“NICK CHARLES NICHOLSON” FATALLY STABBED A CONVENIENCE STORE WORKER 39 TIMES.

“RICKY WASHINGTON” FATALLY SHOT A GROCERY STORE OWNER DURING AN ARMED ROBBERY

“KEITH ELMON MESSIAH” FATALLY SHOT A MAN IN THE FACE IN A POPEYE’S CHICKEN PARKING LOT DURING AN ARMED ROBBERY.
THESE MEN WERE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT A CHANCE OF PAROLE.
SEVERAL OTHERS ON THE LIST RECEIVED THE SAME SENTENCES FOR SIMILAR CRIMES.

ACCORDING TO THE “LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS” –
NICHOLSON IS ALREADY LISTED AS “OUT OF CUSTODY”.

IT’S UNCLEAR HOW MANY OF THE 56 INMATES HAVE BEEN RELEASED OR WHEN THEY WILL BE RELEASED SINCE RECEIVING PARDONS.

GOVERNOR EDWARDS REACHED HIS TERM LIMIT – SERVING AS GOVERNOR FOR 8 YEARS.
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY – A REPUBLICAN – WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR IN OCTOBER AND WILL TAKE OFFICE JANUARY 8TH.