Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards made a controversial move as he left office by pardoning 56 inmates, 40 of whom are convicted murderers. The decision raised eyebrows, especially given that 11 of them were located in the greater New Orleans area. The move has been heavily criticized.
One convict, Keith Elmon Messiah, who was among the pardoned, committed a truly shocking crime. He killed Bernice Holman in cold blood during the Mardi Gras celebrations, taking her life after she and her friends handed over money to him in a Popeye’s parking lot. Eyewitnesses saw him shoot Holman in the face before fleeing the scene. Messiah was recommended for the death penalty, but now he will be a free man.
When asked about his decision, Edwards told NOLA.com that Louisiana’s response to an increase in crime has been one of “putting more people in prison and keeping them there longer.” He believes that there is no statistical evidence to suggest that this approach has served to make Louisiana any safer. While some may agree with this take, others will no doubt view this as a profoundly misguided, even dangerous choice.
The pardoning of these prisoners has understandably caused an outcry from some members of the public and politicians alike. They point out that many of the offenders on the list were convicted of particularly heinous crimes and pose a potential threat to society.
The decision to pardon these inmates signifies a clear departure from the previously tough stance that Louisiana took on crime. Whether this will have any long-term impact on the state’s crime rate remains to be seen, but it’s undoubtedly a gamble. Potentially allowing dangerous offenders back onto the streets has caused many to question Edwards’ judgement and priorities.
Although the Governor attempted to defend his actions, the pardon caused shockwaves throughout the state and beyond.