Summary
The cases of some of Louisiana’s longest-serving inmates are receiving renewed attention. A group of now-elderly men called the "10/6 lifers," who were promised parole after serving 10 years and six months. But the state reneged on these deals and many were never released. NewsHour’s Roby Chavez has been reporting on this from Louisiana as part of our series, "Searching for Justice."
terms:
Plea deal:
an agreement whereby those accused of crimes agree to plead guilty instead of fighting in court in exchange for a lighter sentence
Parole:
Release of those in prison before the end of their sentences with conditions such as meeting regularly with a parole officer
Five Facts
-
Who
are the "10/6 Lifers"?
-
What
deal did the 10/6 Lifers make that was not honored by the state of Louisiana?
-
When
were most of these men convicted of crimes, and how long did they stay in prison?
-
Why
do defendants charged with crimes often seek plea deals, according to this piece?
-
How
did the men in this piece end up finally being released?
Focus Questions
Who do you think can help ensure that men and women aren't left in prison or jail longer than their sentences require?
Media literacy:
Why do you think the producers chose to run this story? What do you think they were trying to do with it to inform their audience?
For More
To read more about the men in this piece and their lives after release, see
this piece.
For more from NewsHour's Searching for justice series,
see here
.
