On November 3, Governor John Bel Edwards met with criminal justice reform advocates, stakeholders, beneficiaries of reform, and community leaders to discuss how policy changes have helped to improve public safety five years after they were enacted. The event, part of the governor’s five-city CJR5 tour, was organized by Parole Project and hosted by the LSU Law Center’s Parole and Reentry Clinic. As part of the roundtable discussion, several Parole Project clients shared their stories of redemption and how they are using their second chances to improve their communities. Area employers, legislators and leaders of the Department of Corrections also shared their experiences and support for second chance initiatives.
One sunny spring morning, Ronald Olivier is chatting with a reporter on a sidewalk in downtown Baton Rouge. Some years back, Olivier wouldn’t have been part of this cityscape. He was still imprisoned at Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly called Angola, where he became a grownup.
June 23, 2025
