LAFAYETTE PARISH, LA — Nearly a year after the tragic death of Lafayette Police Senior Corporal Segus Jolivette during a SWAT operation, his family is advocating for a new law aimed at increasing prison time for repeat offenders. On Thursday, Jolivette’s wife, Alexis Jolivette, delivered an emotional testimony before state lawmakers in support of House Bill 11, also known as the Segus Jolivette Act.
The bill, first proposed in 2024, seeks to change the way convicted felons serve their sentences, specifically targeting those with a history of repeated offenses. If passed, the law would require felons to serve a larger portion of their sentence based on the number of offenses. For individuals convicted three times, 50% of their sentence would be mandatory; for those convicted four times, 75%; and for a fifth conviction, the individual would serve their full sentence.
Alexis Jolivette, holding back tears, explained the profound impact her husband’s death has had on her and their family, urging lawmakers to take action for the sake of law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. “One person’s fate being released early from prison stole the life of someone who was worth more than good behavior or time served,” Jolivette said during her testimony.
The Segus Jolivette Act was proposed by Duson Police Chief Kip Judice after the death of Corporal Jolivette. The officer was killed during a standoff with 30-year-old Nyjal Hurst, a man with a long history of criminal offenses. Hurst had barricaded himself inside a home with two other individuals, including a minor, when Jolivette and his SWAT team attempted to serve an arrest warrant. Though Hurst’s bullet did not kill Jolivette, his release from prison and continued violent behavior were seen by many as a contributing factor to the officer’s death.
“The bullet that killed my husband did not come from Nyjal Hurst’s weapon,” Alexis Jolivette stated. “That is my reality. I was torn between the badge my husband stood for and the person who initiated it all, but today I stand with the badge he dedicated his life to.”
Judice echoed her sentiments, pointing out that had Hurst still been incarcerated at the time of the standoff, the incident could have been avoided. “If we do the math, on July 2024, on the date that he (Nyjal Hurst) had a standoff, he would still be incarcerated,” Judice said.
Although House Bill 11 gained strong support from both law enforcement and lawmakers, the bill was temporarily deferred. The provisions of the bill are now being incorporated as an amendment to House Bill 260, authored by Republican State Representative Debbie Villio. This amendment will address concerns raised by judges and district attorneys regarding the proposed sentencing guidelines.
State Representative Chad Boyer, who initially proposed the bill, acknowledged that while progress has been made, there is still work to be done to ensure the law is both effective and fair. “It covered some of our issues, but we still have work to do,” Boyer said. “Anything we can do to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again, we’ll do.”
In her emotional closing remarks, Alexis Jolivette made a final plea to lawmakers. “Please consider these men and women who have to apprehend these suspects, unaware of the outcome,” she said. “Please consider the families that have to see their loved ones do a job that only the brave will do. And most importantly, please consider my husband, my soulmate, Snr. CPL. Segus Jolivette, when considering implementing this bill.”
As lawmakers continue to refine the details of the bill, the Segus Jolivette Act remains under consideration, with the goal of ensuring justice for victims of repeat offenders and protecting law enforcement officers in the future.