Outgoing Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards pardons 56 inmates, including 40 convicted murderers
Other pardoned inmates have received convictions for armed robbery, aggravated kidnapping and first-degree robbery
By Timothy H.J. Nerozzi Fox News
Published December 23, 2023 7:50am EST
The outgoing governor of Louisiana has pardoned 56 inmates since October of this year, including dozens of convicted murderers.
With a staggering 1,094 people per 100,000 in some form of incarceration, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards has made reducing the state's grossly over-populated prisons a top priority of his final term in office.
"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," Edwards told Louisiana news outlet NOLA.com this week.
"We've never been made safer as a result of that," Edwards said. "There is no data to suggest that an increase in crime here was because of the reforms."
Others released by Edwards include inmates convicted of arson, robbery, and drug dealing, according to a complete list compiled by local outlet Fox 8.
A total of 40 convicted murderers have been pardoned by Edwards in the past three months.
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https://www.foxnews.com/us/outgoing-louisiana-gov-john-bel-edwards-pardons-56-inmates-40-convicted-murderers
