After more than 30 years of serving as a District Attorney Law Clerk, Assistant District Attorney in East Baton Rouge Parish, and currently as Winn Parish District Attorney, Chris Nevils has announced that he will retire at the conclusion of his current term, ending, for now, his service as an advocate for the people of the State of Louisiana and, most importantly the great people of Winn Parish.
First elected in 2006, District Attorney Nevils took on tough challenges as a perceived outsider. Nevils worked tirelessly to change the his public perception along with the perception of a parish where “justice” often depended on your surname rather than the strength of the evidence. Committed to the City of Winnfield in the parish where he and his wife, Kim, raised their two children, Kate and Emily, he always tried to meet as many people from all walks of life in making the parish his home, forever.
By treating all the citizens of the parish fairly and with respect, Nevils has served the community with integrity, professionalism, and an unwavering resolve to upholding the rule of law. “In every case, I take the decision to prosecute someone very seriously and have only done so where a case can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt with evidence produced after a solid investigation,” said Nevils.
Over the course of his tenure, the office has achieved significant milestones, including the successful ridding of hundreds of thousands of dollars in inherited office liabilities at no additional expense to the public. The DA emphasized that “the office continues to operate on mid-2000’s level funding while still attracting the best prosecutors and support staff to be found in a any judicial district. These reforms improved transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility within the office, helping restore public trust and ensure long-term operational stability.” Most recently, Nevils successfully represented his office and the Winn Parish Police Jury in securing a settlement against opioid manufacturers. The non-public funds resulting from the settlement are already being put to good use through partnerships with local law enforcement for undercover drug investigations, improved efficiency and cooperation between agencies using cutting-edge technology, and creating a standardized system for offenders seeking substance-abuse and mental-health treatment for non-violent offenders.
In addition to his leadership in the office, on the appointments of three different Governors, District Attorney Nevils served on numerous boards and commissions including the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, the Louisiana Sentencing Commission and the Central Louisiana Juvenile Detention Facility Board. He was a frequent lecturer and presenter on criminal justice issues, sharing his expertise with legal professionals, policymakers, and community organizations. He further served with distinction on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association. His leadership efforts were recognized by the Louisiana State Police when he was named Prosecutor of the year in 2014. Finally, Nevils worked closely with state legislators to help develop and advance laws that benefited the local community (such as transferring unspent criminal-court funds to the parish general fund) while contributing to broader statewide public safety and justice initiatives. Whenever asked, he served on study committees for the Louisiana State Law Institute, bringing his insight and ideas to help craft legislation promoting public safety and accountability for offenders.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the citizens of Winn Parish,” said District Attorney Nevils. “I am deeply proud of the work we’ve done to strengthen public safety, support victims, and ensure fairness and accountability in our justice system and remain truly optimistic that a new generation of young leaders will make the sacrifices that come with public service to continue these efforts.”
“Throughout his tenure, Chris has been a tireless champion and advocate for victims and always sought justice. He is a true leader in the criminal justice system,” said Billy Joe Harrington, District Attorney for Natchitoches Parish.
As the office prepares for this transition, District Attorney Nevils shared that his decision to retire is driven by a desire to spend more time with family and to become more actively involved in local community issues outside of public office. Serving as counsel for the Winn Industrial Development Board, Nevils wants to continue to attract large economic projects to the parish to generate more employment opportunities and try to reverse the population loss affecting all rural parishes in Louisiana.
Chris Nevils expressed confidence and heart-felt pride in the continued strength of the DA team. “The attorneys, paralegals and support-staff professionals in this office are among the finest in the State of Louisiana. They are provided with the best continuing education, technology and cross-training which allows the office to run with fewer employees. They believe in treating everyone fairly and all are experts at helping people (whether victims, their families, or the families of criminal defendants) get through difficult and often impossible situations. I have full faith they will continue to serve this community with excellence.”
The current term ends in January, 2027. Nevils concluded by noting that there are several younger but highly experienced attorneys who would be up to the physical and mental challenges of serving as District Attorney and hopes that they will consider running.