In 2006, Michael Colton was arrested for selling a small amount of cocaine. Because of his prior non-violent convictions, a district attorney asked that his sentence be enhanced under the habitual offender laws and he was given a sentence of life without parole. Under today’s laws, with no prior violent convictions, this sentence would be illegal.
Despite his sentence, Mr. Colton taught himself to read in prison. He participated in multiple rehabilitative and faith-based programs, including becoming a facilitator of those programs. He also became a Class B trustee and worked as a cook for eight years.
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. Colton was one of the first people to have their hearings under this new law and was granted parole by a unanimous panel of the parole board. Innocence & Justice Louisiana represented him at his hearing. Mr. Colton moved the parole board with his demonstrated commitment to his personal growth and the leadership he had offered others. After more than 16 years in prison, Mr. Colton was released on parole in 2022.
