In Loving Memory of Clarence Simmons
With heavy hearts, IJLA mourns the passing of our client, Clarence Simmons. Mr. Simmons spent more than three decades in prison serving a life sentence for possession of a stolen camera. In 2021, after years of advocacy, IJLA helped secure his freedom. He was 88 years old when he came home.
Though his time in freedom was far too short, Mr. Simmons lived it with purpose. He loved his family deeply and continued to fight for the freedom of the friends he left behind in Angola.
His life and story are a painful reminder of the devastating human and economic cost of excessive sentencing in Louisiana. No one should lose decades of their life to a sentence so wildly out of proportion.
We extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Simmons’ family, friends, and all who loved him. May his memory continue to call us toward justice.
Keith Ezidore Comes Home After 34 Years Wrongfully Convicted
Last week, we had the privilege of welcoming Keith Ezidore to the IJLA office, just weeks after his release from Angola. It was hard not to pause in the moment and reflect on what it meant and what it took to have him walk through our doors.
Keith was released last month after spending more than 34 years in Angola for a murder he has always maintained he did not commit. At 73 years old, he walked out of prison and into the arms of his family and supporters, including his daughter, after decades of separation.
Keith is an IJLA client from St. James Parish. His 1993 second-degree murder conviction and life sentence were overturned after courts found that prosecutors withheld evidence that could have changed the outcome of his trial. No physical evidence linked Keith to the crime.
IJLA has worked on Keith’s case since 2011, fighting for years to uncover the truth and bring him home. Seeing Keith in our office, free and surrounded by the people who have stood with him, was a powerful reminder of why this work matters.
While his release is a major step forward, Keith’s fight is not over. The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office has stated that it intends to retry him. IJLA will continue standing with Keith and his family until he is fully exonerated.
POLICY UPDATES
Republican Legislator on Senate Bill 125: “We need to be better. [This] is a chance to be better. Please support this bill.”
On May 19, SB 125, Louisiana’s wrongful conviction compensation bill, advanced out of the House with another unanimous vote of 98-0.
The bill has received full support throughout the legislative process and heads to the Governor’s desk. It has also drawn broad bipartisan backing, with 78 co-authors across the House and Senate.
SB 125 would raise Louisiana’s compensation cap from 10 years to 15 years for people who were wrongfully convicted and later exonerated. For IJLA clients like Henry James, who spent nearly 30 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, this bill would recognize more of the years taken from him and provide greater support as he continues rebuilding his life in freedom.
As Representative Charles Owen said on the House floor, “We need to be better. [This] is a chance to be better. Please support this bill.”
NEW REPORT
LLEAD’s Analysis of NOPD’s ShotSpotter Program
This month, our Louisiana Law Enforcement Accountability Database (LLEAD) released a new report examining New Orleans’ ShotSpotter pilot program and what nearly nine months of NOPD data reveal about the technology’s impact.
The report found that while ShotSpotter generated 1,399 alerts tied to 1,010 unique incidents, only about one in four resulted in a police report. It also found that the technology did not meaningfully improve police response times compared to civilian 911 gunfire calls.
At a time when public safety resources are already stretched, these findings raise important questions about ShotSpotter’s efficiency, reliability, and overall impact in New Orleans.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Last month, IJLA was grateful to attend the Gary Hoover Author Talk and Book Signing at Baldwin & Co., moderated by Will Sutton and centered on Hoover’s book, Ladder or Lottery: Economic Promises and the Reality of Who Gets Ahead.
The conversation invited us to sit with an urgent question: is our economy truly a ladder, or does opportunity depend too often on chance, circumstance, and systems that were never built for everyone to climb?
At IJLA, this question is deeply connected to our work. For many of our clients, coming home is only the first step — Rebuilding economic stability and independence is often one of their first priorities after release. Through our Client Services Division, we support clients as they pursue their personal goals, navigate reentry, and build lives beyond the bars.
On May 14th, seven Friends of Forever International alumni leaders visited our office during their Advanced Leadership Training Program in New Orleans.
As a part of their visit, the students heard from IJLA’s Deputy Director, Meredith Angelson, and Peer Mentor, Jerome Morgan, who shared insight into our work and the realities of wrongful convictions and excessive punishments.
The students were rapt as Jerome told his story, and asked probing questions about how he kept his mind free in prison, built an emotionally healthy life after release, and what motivates him in this work. We’re incredibly honored to be in conversation with young leaders from around the world who are committed to driving change.
In May, IJLA traveled to Shreveport to host Too Much Time, an evening of awareness and conversation about excessive sentencing in Louisiana.
Together with community members, advocates, and directly impacted families, we watched How Long is Long Enough: The Excessive Sentencing of Quntos & Layla and held a powerful panel discussion about the human cost of extreme sentencing in Caddo Parish, where nearly 400 people are serving life sentences.
We are deeply grateful to the families of Quntos and Layla for sharing space with us, and to IJLA client Barney Holt and Terrance Winn of Priorities, Intentions and Practical Exchanges (PIPE) for speaking candidly about their firsthand experiences with harsh sentencing and incarceration. Their stories reminded us that sentencing policy is not abstract. It shapes families, futures, and entire communities.
Special thanks to Zachary Lazar for partnering with us to make this gathering possible. The evening made one thing clear: communities across Louisiana are paying attention, asking hard questions, and demanding a legal system rooted in fairness, dignity, and justice.
Thank you to Patrick Ball of Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) for hosting a powerful Roundtable Talk on how human rights movements use data, statistics, and collective testimony to document harm and create democratic change after the fall of a dictatorship.
The conversation deeply connects to IJLA’s work confronting wrongful convictions, exposing systemic harm, and holding those in power accountable. Like HRDAG, we believe truth must be documented, protected, and brought into the light.
We are grateful to the John Thompson Legacy Center for welcoming us into this important space, and to everyone who joined us for this meaningful conversation.
Last week, we hosted an intimate chat about progress and setbacks in this legislative session at our Supporter Briefing. Supporters had great questions about the legislative process, and our executive director Jee Park and peer mentor Jerome Morgan discussed the current and changing legal landscape around our work. At the time of writing, SB 125, which would expand wrongful conviction compensation, sits on Governor Landry’s desk awaiting his signature.
These briefings are always a great chance to engage in substantive conversation with a small group of supporters and learn what parts of our work are important to them. We’re looking forward to the next one!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join Us for IJLA’s 25th Anniversary Gala
This year marks 25 years of Innocence & Justice Louisiana fighting to free innocent and unjustly sentenced people across our state. That’s 25 years of walking alongside clients, standing with families, challenging injustice, and believing that freedom is worth fighting for.
On Saturday, September 19, 2026, we hope you’ll join us at Xavier University of Louisiana for an unforgettable evening honoring that legacy and helping us build what comes next.
Our 25th Anniversary Gala will bring together clients, families, advocates, community partners, and supporters for a night of local cuisine, music, a silent auction, and the presentation of the John Thompson Award for Courage & Justice.
Every ticket and table purchased helps sustain IJLA’s mission and supports the next generation of advocacy for innocent and unjustly sentenced people in Louisiana.
We would be honored to have you in the room with us.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
6:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Xavier University of Louisiana, University Center Ballroom, 3rd Floor
4955 Drexel Dr., New Orleans
Purchase your tickets or reserve a table today, and be part of this milestone moment for justice in Louisiana.