It is a long standing tradition that when the Governor of the state of Louisiana prepares to leave office, he will sign off on pardons for some convicted criminals. he list of those that Jon Bel Edwards has signed off on to receive pardons or commutations of sentences for criminals stands at 56 as of December 21st.

Included is Connie Laron Sledge, who was convicted second degree murder charge in Jackson Parish. No details of what correctional facility, the arrest, or conviction was made public. 

The Louisiana Board of Pardons meets on a regular basis to review and make decisions on Pardon and Commutation of Sentence (CTO) applications. Of all pardons made between October and December, 32 of them include second-degree murder charges and 8 of them include first-degree murder charges.