DA Jerry Jones announces resignation

Jerry Jones, long-time district attorney for the 4th Judicial District, has announced he will retire, effective Nov. 1.

The decision, he said, is solely motivated by his health. Jones had multiple surgeries on his lower back before being rear-ended in a traffic accident in late 2015. Since a disc in his neck was ruptured in the wreck, he said, he has been physically unable to stand for long periods and or do the work that it takes to try a case successfully.

"I don't want to go," Jones said. "This is a job that I love. I feel like, by being DA, that I've been able to accomplish something with my career."

An advocate for women and children, Jones said between 2011 and 2015, domestic violence homicides in the area have been reduced by 70 percent. He pointed to a combination of factors, including The Wellspring and other places where women and children can go for protection.

Jones personally tries all domestic violence cases with severe injuries or death. He said there are many cases in Ouachita and Morehouse parishes that he wanted to try himself and will not be able to.

"I know the families depend on me to do this," he said.

The job is stressful - with many people, situations and legalities involved. Jones said he wants to look out for his assistant district attorneys, the victims and their families. He said the decisions he makes affect almost everyone involved. While Jones has tried to maintain "no-drop" (not dropping charges) policies on cases of domestic violence and DWIs, some cases make that an impossibility. Some domestic violence cases can't be proven, and he tries to help veterans charged with DWI.

"This profession that I have chosen presents you, on occasion, with cases that make the no-drop policy an impossibility. Some mother has just lost her child and something happens, she gets arrested for drunk and disturbing the peace, I'm not going to charge that," Jones said.

"You've got to look at the human element of prosecution. The most important thing that a prosecutor can have is a heart. You got to know who needs to be prosecuted and who needs a second chance. It is not an easy decision."

Jones said violent crimes and sex crimes, especially pedophilia, are easy decisions.

He has prosecuted eight capital murder cases: four as prosecution and four as defense. Jones has been to the U.S. Supreme Court on six occasions. His early career included appellate work. He said drafting those briefs was like putting together a puzzle, but litigation is what he's always liked to do.

Wellspring highlights drop in domestic violence homicides

Legislation shapes lives statewide

When he was first elected, Jones decided to work with state representatives to shape laws to protect those who most need protection. Most of the legislation he helped draft focused on helping battered women and children.

Former state Sen. Bob Kostelka said he worked with Jones before his election on legislation to reduce domestic abuse.

"He will be missed," Kostelka said.

Jones was instrumental in the development of the state's domestic abuse battery law, which passed in 2003 and provides stiffer penalties for each offense and increases penalties when children are involved. He said there was murder case in which the man had been arrested seven times for battering his wife. She kicked him out, and he got even by shooting her in the head as she left for work.

"That's the most dangerous time in a woman's life, when she forces him out or files for a divorce," Jones said.

Jones said the officer who had handled the battery cases had to be removed from the scene — he had tried to save her.

He later requested that the same law be amended to add a particular offense and penalty for burning someone after a case in which the victim was tortured for hours with a clothes iron. Now, if a person burns their spouse as an act of domestic violence and causes serious injury, the penalty range is five to 50 years. It's also defined as a crime of violence, so there is no benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

He also developed the Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of Louisiana in 2004, which helps provide child support for children. Jones said a mother having to look at a child who needs food because the father isn't paying child support is a form of abuse.

Jones helped draft the state's video voyeurism legislation after a 1998 case in Monroe. Susan Wilson and her family of Monroe after they were victimized by the voyeurism of neighbor Stephen Glover in 1998. Prosecutors were only able to charge Glover, who set up cameras in the Wilson house and videotaped the family, with unauthorized entry into a dwelling because there were no laws against voyeurism in Louisiana. The story was made into the 2002 movie, "Video Voyeur: The Susan Wilson Story," for the Lifetime channel.

In his fourth term, Jones proposed a bill to legislators that made it a crime to threaten a spouse with a dangerous weapon. The law carries a penalty of one to five years at hard labor and a fine of up to $5,000.

He pushed for passage of Caylee's Law in Louisiana, which increases the penalty in sexual abuse cases when the victim is younger than 13.

Jones drafted a law that creates a group of professionals to evaluate and assist any pregnant woman who gets arrested and tests positive for illegal drugs.

Jones also proposed legislation that increased the penalty for perjury and sought passage of a law for second-degree robbery. The change carries a charge of three to 40 years at hard labor for one found guilty of inflicting serious bodily harm during a theft.

His final piece expanded the assault of a police officer with any dangerous weapon to a felony.

On Monday, Jones said he's probably most proud of his work drafting laws to protect women.

Law expands felony in cop assaults

Tenure as DA

Jones, already the longest serving 4th District Attorney in modern history, won his fifth, six-year term after no candidate qualified to challenge him in the November 2014 election. Since winning his first race in 1991, he has run opposed.

Shortly after taking office in 1991, Jones created Adolescents at Risk, a program aimed at preventing juveniles from entering the criminal justice system. He also created a juvenile diversion program. In the past, he sponsored educational trips to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola for more than 300 high school students. He also supports juvenile drug court and teen court and established a separate juvenile accountability based sanctions program.

In 2000, Jones helped organize a drug court program. To date, more than 630 people have graduated with a success rate of 86 percent and a recidivism rate of 14 percent.

DWI court, in its seventh year, is devoted to the oversight and rehabilitation of DWI third offenders. After successfully completing the program, the graduate is required to plead guilty to DWI second offense. Jones established a separate DWI management program that provides intensive counseling and group therapy to second- and third-time offenders. The offender can plead to DWI one grade lower after completing the program. Jones also provided experienced prosecutors to assist in DWI training at the regional police academy.

Each year, Jones and a group of domestic violence victims talk to teen girls at local high schools.

He said he has a whole section of his office working on protective orders.

"Always get a protective order. Now, a protective order won't stop a bullet, everybody knows that, but it will stop him from driving by your house. It'll stop him from sitting across the street, cleaning his gun or sharpening his knife — or calling your office," Jones said.

In the 2016 regular session, Jones sought passage of a law that allows the creation of a Re-Entry Program in the 4th Judicial District. the program provides offenders job and skill training, such as welding or mechanics, prior to their release from prison. The goal is to reduce recidivism by giving people the skills they need to get good-paying jobs.

Justice reforms elevate rehab, expand parole

What's next?

Jones said a special election for DA has been set. Qualifying is Jan. 11-13, the primary is March 25, and the general election will be April 29.

Steve Tew will act as interim district attorney until the election is held.

Jones plans to practice law with his son Duncan in Morehouse Parish as his health permits. If he could still prosecute murder trials in Morehouse, he said, he could still be the district attorney.

"There's plenty to do," he said.

Follow Bonnie Bolden on Twitter @Bonnie_Bolden_ and on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/1RtsEEP.