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"When California denies a murderer parole, should it need a reason?"

By Douglas A. Berman

The title of this post is the headline of this notable article in today's Los Angeles Times.  Here are some highlights: [In California, there are] hundreds of so-called lifers whom state parole boards have deemed rehabilitated and ready to rejoin society, but who sit behind bars because their crime was murder.  In recent years, some judges have sided with lifers, ruling that the state can't deny an inmate parole solely because of the gravity of his original offense but rather must provide "some evidence" that he would pose a threat to public safety if released.... Until the 1980s, when a succession of tough-on-crime governors came to power, parole was routine for those sentenced to life who showed evidence of rehabilitation.  In 1983, Gov...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on December 13, 2009 (boomark / email).