The Louisiana Committee on Parole met on Nov. 17, 2025, and heard more than a dozen petitions for commutation, pardon and restoration of firearms rights from applicants across state correctional facilities and in person at DOC headquarters in Baton Rouge.

The board denied most requests for commutation after victim testimony and law‑enforcement opposition, and it recommended a set of pardons — including several with restoration of firearms rights — to the governor. Chair Cheryl Renaza opened the session and oversaw roll call before the board moved through scheduled applicants.

Why it matters: Decisions on commutation and pardon affect victims, people who were sentenced decades ago and applicants’ ability to work, travel and regain certain civil rights. The board cited victim opposition, plea bargains, and public‑safety assessments in its denials, and cited completed programming, time served, or narrowly tailored relief when it recommended pardons.

Votes at a glance (action → board decision; excerpted reasons):
- Anthony Augustine (commutation): denied (board vote to deny; board cited victim opposition, DA and sheriff opposition).
- Kirkland Craft (commutation): denied (victim and DA opposition cited).
- Eric Evans (commutation): denied (law‑enforcement and prosecutorial opposition; DA argued shooting could have been far worse).
- Nigel Sean Parker (pardon with firearms): recommendation to governor to grant (unanimous vote to recommend pardon with firearms restoration).
- Gaston (commutation to time served): board voted to commute sentence to time served with no expunction of record; conditions included no contact with prior victims.
- Kagler (pardon with firearms): board recommended pardon with firearms restoration.
- Robert Harrison Jr. (pardon with firearms): board recommended pardon with firearms restoration.
- Eldridge/Butler (pardon): denied (members cited recent violent history and supervision concerns).
- Thomas Williams (commutation): denied (victim opposition, DA and sheriff opposition cited).
- Harry Kersey (commutation): denied (strong victim opposition and public‑safety concerns involving child victims).
- John Estine (commutation): denied (assistant DA argued Estine was a major drug distributor and board cited insufficient time since release).
- Isaiah Harrison (relief from parole/supervision): denied (board said insufficient time out of supervision to grant relief).
- Joseph Simmons Jr. (pardon with firearms): denied (assistant DA cited insufficient time since last conviction).
- Deandre Shine (pardon with firearms): board voted to recommend pardon with firearms restoration to the governor.
- Courtney Carter Blockson (pardon with firearms): after restitution was paid, the board recommended a pardon with firearms restoration to the governor.

Notable public testimony and excerpts
- Casey Greenhouse, identified as the victim’s child, told the board: “I am here today because my father murdered my mother.” She urged the board to deny Augustine’s request, calling the loss lifelong for her family.
- Board members explained denials in plain terms; Chair Renaza announced outcomes at the microphone: “Today, your application for commutation has been denied, sir,” following a 4‑0 vote in one case.

What’s next: Recommended pardons will be forwarded to the governor for final action. Applicants denied by the board can reapply when eligible. The board said some pardons include conditions such as no contact with prior victims or preserved criminal records (commutations that grant release but do not expunge the record).