After serving 27 years for the 1998 murder of 77-year-old Ann Prazniak, Bryan Hooper Sr. appeared before the Minnesota Board of Commissioners on April 29 to request a move to a lower security facility and eventual release. Throughout the parole hearing, Hooper maintained his long-standing claim of innocence, a position that has fueled growing community support and renewed scrutiny of the criminal justice system.
Hooper, who is incarcerated at the Minnesota Department of Corrections in Stillwater, participated in the hearing alongside his son and advocate, Bryan Hooper Jr. “I’m not supposed to be here,” Hooper told the commissioners. “I’ve already served enough time for something I did not do.” He added that despite the weight of his conviction, he remains committed to moving forward with his life, expressing hope to reunite with his family and contribute to society.
While the Board’s role does not include exoneration decisions, the commissioners evaluated Hooper’s readiness for reentry based on risk assessments, behavioral history, and program participation. Some members of the board raised concerns about perceived unresolved anger and past conflicts while incarcerated. Others acknowledged that Hooper had applied for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and had taken steps to prepare for reintegration, including requesting a transfer to a medium-security facility.
Ultimately, the Board voted to approve Hooper’s transfer to the Lino Lakes facility, with a review set for three years from now.
In a phone interview following the hearing, Hooper expressed disappointment at the Board’s framing of his behavior. “They say I’m aggressive and angry, but I haven’t hurt nobody in 27 years under this situation,” he said.
He also addressed the incident referenced by the board involving a potential altercation when Hooper refused to participate in a work strike within the penitentiary. “I didn’t attack anyone — I had a stick near me for protection after threats were made,” Hooper said. “That was it.”
Responding to concerns about substance use, Hooper stated that he was sober at the time of his arrest and has remained drug-free in prison. “I’ve had opportunities to use drugs in here, but I haven’t,” he said. “They say all kinds of stuff that don’t make sense.”
Supporters who attended the hearing expressed frustration at the tone of the interrogation and the broader implications of Hooper’s incarceration. Brianna Hooper, his daughter, said the process felt dehumanizing. “They want to determine someone’s character in an hour,” she said. “Wouldn’t you be angry if you were wrongfully stuck in a cage?”
Brianna and her brother, Bryan Jr., described their father as a source of strength and guidance, even from behind bars. Bryan Jr., now an educator and doctoral student, credited his father’s support for helping him recover from his own trauma. “Even from prison, he’s been the most supportive person in my life,” he said.
Raj Seku, a community leader present at the hearing, criticized the process as emotionally ungrounded. “It’s not a commission that’s set up to help the community,” he said. “They weaponized his trauma instead of hearing his truth.”
Advocate Peace Shantae described the system as “slavery by another name” and praised Hooper’s resilience while voicing her agitation. “For this brother, Bryan Hooper, to blatantly say that he did not commit this crime and then to sit here and watch the commission twist his intention — it felt like antagonization. They honed in on his anger when this man has stood firm on his innocence for 27 years,” she said.
Community member Natasha Bennett also questioned the board’s ability to recognize growth in incarcerated individuals. “A man like Bryan Hooper, with all the things that he’s accomplished in prison, and having successful children in society, you would think the board would have recognized him as someone who can actually bring a positive impact to our world,” she said. “Instead, I think they perceived his communication as anger, when it was really just the product of 27 years behind bars.”
In his call, Hooper also raised concerns about programs that require an admission of guilt for successful completion. “I’m not going to lie on myself just to graduate a program,” he said. “If it means never going home, then so be it. I won’t give up my truth, and the truth is I’m innocent”
Hooper and his family are now pursuing exoneration while continuing to advocate for reform. “My whole case was a political ploy,” he said. “They built it on falsehoods and jailhouse informants. I urge people to read my file, follow the chain of events. I just want people to know I’m not going away.”
Brianna Hooper confirmed that the Hennepin County Conviction Integrity Unit is currently reviewing her father’s case. The unit investigates criminal convictions in the county where there is a plausible claim that an innocent person was convicted.
When asked how the public can support his fight, Hooper urged voters to hold officials accountable. “Policies play too much into these wrongful convictions,” he said.
As the conversation around wrongful convictions and parole reform continues, Hooper’s case remains a focal point for advocates demanding a more equitable and rehabilitative justice system.
Kiara Williams welcomes reader responses at kwilliams@spokesman-recorder.com