Angola Inmate Faces Medical Parole Battle After Two Strokes

Dominque Jones has not heard her father's voice for five months. For the first 43 years of her life, she spoke with Charles Brown Jr., 65, three or four times daily. That routine ended abruptly in June when Brown, an inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, suffered a heat-induced stroke.

The initial stroke occurred on June 28 in a dormitory at Camp D that lacks air conditioning. A second strike hit Brown on July 29. He was rushed to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge, where Jones sought a visit. The hospital denied the request because he was not considered end of life. He has since been returned to the prison's medical ward.

Brown's cognitive decline has severed his ability to communicate. Jones said he cannot form complete sentences, read, or write. During a visit in July, he recognized his family but could not speak their names or recall his birthdate. When he attempted to ask about his grandchildren, he pointed at Jones' stomach. She left him with a note listing his name, parents, and siblings to help him remember his identity.

The family faces a bureaucratic hurdle. Louisiana law allows for medical parole for those permanently disabled, a category Brown appears to meet. However, the state offers no formal application process for families. Officials must identify candidates, and correctional staff often prioritize physical deterioration over cognitive impairment. Dr. Nicole Mushero, a geriatric medicine expert at Boston Medical Center, noted that inmates who can still wash and dress themselves are rarely deemed incapacitated, even if they suffer from dementia or stroke damage.

Sarah Staudt, policy director of the Prison Policy Initiative, argued that medical parole is fiscally responsible. She stated that states pay 100% of the cost for care for declining inmates. A colleague, Emily Widra, previously found that few people benefit from these laws because the application process is lengthy and confusing. Staudt said, "My heart really goes out to her," regarding Jones' struggle.

Jones co-founded the nonprofit Daughters Beyond Incarceration with her father. The organization supports young women maintaining relationships with incarcerated parents. Brown served as a strategic advisor, connecting families with inmates. Jones described him as the brains behind the group. She said, "My dad is the brains behind this organization," emphasizing that connection with an incarcerated parent is essential for a child's development.

Brown has been incarcerated since January 1982. He was convicted in Jefferson Parish of an armed robbery and rape, a crime that began near his apartment in St. Bernard. He and a co-defendant were sentenced to life. Jones, born in November 1982, grew up knowing her father was in prison. She credited him with helping her with homework and tracking her track meet results in the newspaper.

Jerome "Skee" Smith, who served 38 years at Angola alongside Brown, said Brown was a mentor to many inmates. Smith recalled Brown stopping him from killing a cellmate in 1992, saying, "If you kill him, you ain't never going home." Smith noted that Brown can still walk and use his limbs, which may make officials reluctant to grant release despite his cognitive deficits.

Jones continues to drive to the facility to check on him. She said the only way to gauge his condition is to see him in person. Brown's emails through the JPay system are often illegible. The family remains hopeful that officials will review his case, given that he is now housed on the medical ward, a status Smith described as a clear sign that something is wrong.