In urban areas, when black defendants kill black victims, they generally are allowed to plea bargain to a lesser charge. The same occurs in rural areas with white defendants. However, a black person who kills a white person will almost certainly get a life sentence. The only white defendants receiving life sentences are those who kill someone during a robbery. This creates a situation where most lifers are black and in prison for killing whites. They must serve time with white (and black) prisoners, convicted of killing blacks, who are serving 10 to 15 years for manslaughter. The only hope of release for most of these lifers lies with the Board of Pardons or through some form of judicial relief. Data illustrate the inequities of pardons granted over the years in Louisiana. Related issues concerning lifers are also mentioned.