Governor Bobby Jindal announced appointments to the Board of Pardons Sept. 7.

The Board of Pardons is responsible for receiving and examining information and documents to make recommendations to the governor regarding applications for clemency and pardon of individuals who are incarcerated.

According to statute, the board is comprised of five members appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be the chairman of the board and one who shall be appointed from a list of names submitted by any victim’s rights advocacy organization which is recognized as a nonprofit with the Internal Revenue Service, incorporated or organized in the state of Louisiana and in good standing, and does not engage in political activity.

All members shall possess not less than five years actual experience in the field of penology, corrections, law enforcement, sociology, law, education, social work or medicine.

Appointments to the Board of Pardons:

• Sheryl Ranatza, of St. Francisville, is currently retired and is the former Deputy Secretary for the Department of Corrections. She was also the former Deputy Warden of Operations and the Assistant Warden for Angola.

Ranatza will be appointed to serve as the chairman of the board who possesses not less than five years of actual experience in the field of penology, corrections, law enforcement, sociology, law, education, social work or medicine, as required by statute.

• Michael Slocum, of Pineville, is retired and served as the former Commander of the Narcotics Division in the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Slocum will be appointed to serve as an individual submitted by a victims’ rights advocacy organization which is recognized as a nonprofit with the Internal Revenue Service, as required by statute.

• Jimmy Wise, of Leesville, is retired and formerly worked for Geo Southern Energy Corporation and the Vernon Sheriff’s Office where he served as a jailer, a patrol deputy and a detective.

Wise will be appointed to serve as an at-large member who possesses not less than five years of actual experience in the field of penology, corrections, law enforcement, sociology, law, education, social work or medicine, as required by statute.