Louisiana
Louisiana Senate committee advances Jim Crow Jury conviction bill
Hear what Jackson has to say after being paroled from David Wade.
After 25 years in prison Brandon Jackson, 50, reunited with his mother, Mollie Peoples, close to David Wade Correctional Center on February 11, 2022.
Henrietta Wildsmith, Shreveport Times
A Louisiana bill could provide a new remedy to people incarcerated under Jim Crow Juries.
Three Democrats and two Republicans voted Tuesday in favor to advance Sen. Royce Duplessis’ bill (SB218) during a Louisiana State Senate committee meeting. This bill will provide a new remedy to people incarcerated under nonunanimous jury verdicts.
“Today, this Senate committee accepted their responsibility to right this wrong and move our state toward long-awaited justice for those convicted by Jim Crow juries,” said Hardell Ward, Promise of Justice Initiative’s director of Community Impact and former lead attorney for the Non-Unanimous Jury project at PJI.
PJI and other advocates have been working with families and loved ones of people incarcerated with nonunanimous jury convictions as well as individuals who were exonerated following such convictions since 2018.
In 2019, PJI took the case Ramos v. Louisiana to the United States Supreme Court, which ruled that nonunanimous jury verdicts violate the Sixth Amendment. However, the Louisiana Supreme Court subsequently refused to apply the Ramos decision for past convictions, initially denying about 1,500 people legal relief.
Duplessis’ bill will add a nonunanimous jury verdict to an existing list of grounds upon which an incarcerated person can file for post-conviction relief to receive the opportunity for a new trial.
SB218 will now move forward to full Senate consideration following its 5-1 vote in committee meeting.
“Louisiana lawmakers now have an opportunity to finally address this history and to recognize the right of every Louisianan to a fair process in the criminal legal system,” Samantha Kennedy, PJI executive director, said.
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter for The Shreveport Times. You can contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
Louisiana
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MONROE, La. (KNOE) – The North Louisiana Crime Lab released a June 2026 law enforcement bulletin warning of additional cases tied to cyclorphine, a synthetic opioid the lab says can be significantly more potent than fentanyl.
The bulletin, titled “Cyclorphine Update — Additional Cases & Footprint,” notes that drug evidence submissions testing positive for cyclorphine have been received from multiple parishes in North Louisiana.
What is cyclorphine?
According to the bulletin, cyclorphine is a synthetic opioid in the emerging orphine drug class. The lab said current toxicity data are limited, but laboratory studies indicate cyclorphine may be up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl.
Reported effects
The crime lab said cyclorphine can produce effects similar to other narcotic analgesics, including:
- Central nervous system depression
- Lethargy or stupor
- Respiratory depression with slow, shallow breathing
- Pinpoint pupils
The bulletin said Narcan should be administered to someone suffering from cyclorphine toxicity, and that multiple doses may be needed.
What the bulletin says about trends
The crime lab said national data indicate cyclorphine will likely continue spreading through the region, including becoming more common in seized and submitted drug evidence.
Where cyclorphine has been detected
The bulletin includes a “detection timeline and counterfeit tablet types,” showing evidence submissions tied to specific parishes and dates, including:
- Caddo Parish (Feb. 19; April 14)
- Ouachita Parish (March 18; May 13)
- DeSoto Parish (March 25)
- Natchitoches Parish (May 14)
The lab also noted counterfeit pill types associated with these submissions, including tablets labeled “M30,” “M15,” “K56,” “1259,” and “M367.” Officials warned it may be impossible to know what a pill contains, even if it resembles a known tablet.
The North Louisiana Crime Lab said it will continue tracking trends and sharing updates as additional evidence is submitted.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
Before freedom was celebrated, it was fought for. Journey through Louisiana’s complex road from slavery to emancipation, where revolutionaries, musicians, educators, and everyday people challenged a system built on bondage. From the drumbeats of Congo Square to the sugar plantations of the German Coast, from acts of resistance and self-purchase to jubilant celebrations of emancipation, this powerful documentary uncovers the people, places, and events that shaped Louisiana’s unique path to freedom. Through compelling interviews, historic sites, and stories long overlooked, Emancipation Jubilee reveals a legacy of resilience that still echoes across the state today.
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