In 2003, Cody Fleming was arrested for selling 0.04 grams of cocaine to an undercover police officer. Because of prior non-violent convictions, a judge sentenced him to life without parole. Under today’s laws, with no prior violent convictions, a judge could not impose a life sentence on Mr. Fleming.
Mr. Fleming did not let a life sentence deter him from committing his life to learning. He earned his GED and a carpentry certificate, completed rehabilitative programming, learned the lessons of the Bible and spent many days simply reading whatever book he could get his hands on. He stayed closely in touch with his family.
In 2021, the Louisiana Legislature passed a law recognizing that people serving life sentences for non-violent crimes should have the opportunity to prove their readiness for freedom. People who had served 15 years were eligible for a parole hearing. Mr. Fleming was one of the first people to have their hearings under this new law. He spoke to the board about the personal challenges he had overcome over the past two decades and of the strong bonds he had maintained with his children through that time. In December 2022, he was granted parole unanimously after nearly 20 years in prison.
