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Support for retroactive parole

2 min read

It’s not surprising that our prosecutors and victim’s groups oppose retroactive parole eligibility for deserving, life-sentenced prisoners after they have served at least 25 years and are over 50 years old despite the finding of a legislative advisory committee. It’s easy to empathize with victims of violent crimes and understand their feelings and positions. However, should their firm opposition to what is fair, balanced and wise break down our own moral fortitude? Around 160 wrongfully convicted people have been released from prison in recent years after DNA evidence conclusively proved their innocence, but these few fortunate ones are just the tip of the iceberg. DNA evidence doesn’t exist in most cases, so we’re absolutely certain there are many more innocent prisoners submerged in our prisons with life sentences who have no way of proving their innocence. How can district attorneys, victim’s groups or anyone else justify forcing these innocent inmates to spend the rest of their lives in prison without justice or mercy? Their position is not fair, balanced, wise, or moral. Their position is clearly unjustifiable.

How would you feel if you were an innocent prisoner sentenced to life without the possibility of parole? What if you were a truly remorseful rehabilitated lifer who had changed so much for the better that you would risk your own life to prevent a prison employee from being murdered? What would you want your lawmakers to do if you were in one of these situations. Despite anything they might say to the contrary, if a district attorney or a member of some victim’s group ever found themselves in a situation like one of these, don’t you know they would be arguing for what is fair, balanced, wise, and moral instead of relentlessly pushing for the most extreme penalties?

Ronna Secreti

Cecil

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