Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. All Applicants
1. Every application must be submitted on the
form approved by the Board of Pardons which is made available on the board's
webpage at www.doc.la.gov.
2. It is
the applicant's responsibility to submit a complete application. The
application shall not be processed until it is complete. If any required
information does not apply, the response should be "NA".
3. Each answer must be answered fully,
truthfully, and accurately. The submission of any false information is grounds
for immediate denial of the application.
4. Additional documentation that is relevant
to the application may be also be submitted, including letters of support on
behalf of the applicant, military DD-214 if applicable, other attachments that
the applicant would like to include that are relevant to the
application.
5. The mailed
application must be filled out completely, signed, dated, and notarized where
required.
6. The online application
must be digitally signed and submitted through the website.
B. In addition to the information
submitted by application, the following required documents must be attached as
they apply to each applicant.
1. Incarcerated
Applicants. Any applicant presently confined in any institution must attach a
current master prison record and have the signature of a classification officer
verifying the conduct of the applicant and a copy of conduct report. Applicants
sentenced to death must attach proof of direct appeal denial.
2. Parolees. Applicants who have completed
parole supervision must attach a copy of their parole certificate, a certified
judgment and sentence on each conviction for which they are applying for a
pardon; a certified statement from the clerk of court that all fines, fees, and
court costs (including restitution and probation fees) have been paid in full;
a current credit report (current within 90 days of date of application), and
proof of residence.
3.
Probationers. Applicants who have completed the probationary period must attach
a certified copy of sentencing minutes or copy of automatic first offender
pardon, a certified judgment and sentence on each conviction for which they are
applying for a pardon; a certified statement from the clerk of court that all
fines, fees, and court costs (including restitution and probation fees) have
been paid in full; a current credit report (current within 90 days of date of
application), and proof of residence.
4. First Offender Pardons [R.S.
15:572(B)]. Applicants who
have received an automatic first offender pardon must attach a copy of the
automatic first offender pardon.
C. 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.
D. Reapplication upon Denial. Any applicant
denied by the board shall be notified, in writing, of the reason(s) for the
denial and thereafter may file a new application as indicated below.
1. Applicants Sentenced to Life Imprisonment.
Any applicant with a life sentence may reapply five years after the initial
denial and every five years thereafter. Applicant must also meet the criteria
stated in §203.C.2 a-d.
2. Other. Applicants without a life sentence
may file a new application two years from date of the letter of
denial.
3. Fraudulent Documents or
Information. Any fraudulent documents or information submitted by an 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 letter of
denial.
4. Governor Granted
Clemency. The Office of the Governor will notify an applicant if any clemency
is granted. Any otherwise eligible person who has been granted any form of
executive clemency by the governor may not reapply for further executive
clemency for at least four years from the date that such action became
final.
5. Denial/No Action Taken by
Governor after Favorable Recommendation. The board shall notify an applicant
after its receipt of notification from the governor that the board's favorable
recommendation was denied or no action was taken.
a. If the applicant is notified of denial by
the governor, the applicant may not reapply for clemency for at least four
years from the date of the denial. The application filing procedures in
Subsections A-D.3 of this Section shall apply.
b. When no action is taken by the governor on
a recommendation for clemency issued by the board, the person seeking clemency
shall not be required to reapply to the board and the recommendation shall not
expire upon the expiration of the governors term in office and may be reviewed
by the next governor to take office.
i. Upon
receipt of the no action files from the governors office, the parole board
staff shall review the following:
(a).
offenders disciplinary record; and;
(b). State Police rap sheet;
ii. Staff will use the updated
information to determine if the applicant is still eligible to apply for
clemency.
iii. Once approved, the
file will be sent back to the governors office within six months of being
received, with a recommendation to the governor from the pardon board, signed
by the board chair.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 15:573.1, 15:574.12 and 44:1 et
seq.