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Posted: 7:34 PM Mar 17, 2010
Bill proposed to let convicted felons free
A bill to let convicted murderers free on parole is in the legislature right now.
Reporter: Rayne McKenzie Email Address: rayne@wtvy.com |
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10 Comments 
If proposed legislation is passed, criminals with no prior felonies, who are convicted of murder, could be free after serving just twenty years of a life-without-parole sentence.
According to Pat Jones, President of the Southeast Chapter of Victims Of Crime and Leniency or VOCAL, “It's just a frightening thought that anybody would be released on a captial murder crime.”
After living through the murder of a loved one, Jones is appalled that new legislation could let convicted murderers go free.
Jones adds, “What this bill would do would give life without parole victims a chance to get parole after 20 years and that's like a slap in the face to a crime victim.”
Sponsors of the bill see the legislation as positive for both criminals and tax payers.
Representative James Fields Jr. responds by saying, “We can't continue to keep housing people for their whole lives, because we end up building more institutions and it's a burden on our tax payers. I think we need to give hope to these people who have committed a crime, paid their dues, been model inmates, and say to them you have a chance to live life on the outside.”
However, the move to more leniency for convicted felons is not sitting well with some law enforcement officials.
“I think what we've forgotten is about victims,” says Henry/Houston County District Attorney Doug Valeska. “The horrible death they've been through on capital murder cases. You know the torture and suffering they went through. What's their life worth? It's worth more than 20 years.”
The bill is currently in the Judiciary Committee. It may come up for discussion next Wednesday.
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