Patrick Govan

Patrick Govan, a NOLA native, and Honorably Discharged U.S. Navy Veteran, was recently hired on as the Research Coordinator for the Jesuit Social Research Institute. Pat was released from the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola after serving 35 years on a life sentence. Upon review of the facts in his case by the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Civil Rights Division, the trial court determined that his sentence was extreme and vacated his conviction and sentence. Throughout his incarceration he sought to further his education by enrolling into the Paralegal Studies program offered through North Missouri Community College (NMCC). Upon graduating, he worked as a Paralegal in the prison’s law libraries for 15 years; drafting legal documents, research and writing, representing others in the disciplinary court proceedings and preparing appeals. For the next 11 years, he worked at The Angolite, the prison’s award-winning newsmagazine as a journalist. His firsthand experience and expertise in the prison’s educational and legal system, along with journalism will add further value to the Jesuit prison educational goal.