Would you let this guy out of prison? Longest-Serving Illinois Prisoner Denied Parole.

[delusianne]

don't roll the dice if you can't pay the price.

[JHusseinMoore]

As long there was a mob with pitchforks and torches on the other side of the door, why not?

[fierce_flawless]

Originally Posted by jmarquise

don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

Well that wins the award for orginiality.

Although it isn't in the thread title, the question as to is guilt or innocence has been brought up but no one seems to be able to read that here. The point is, there is a very real possibility that this guy did NOT do the crime. Now what?

[akm4]

I guess it's easier to condemn him than to consider what we may have done to this guy. Can you imagine if your teenager had been in this position?

What a waste.....

[delusianne]

He's had sixty-two years to appeal.

[akm4]

Yes, but the appeals process didn't even exist in 1946! He did try later on, though, and was denied.

[kraftijam]

Originally Posted by fierce_flawless

Are you kidding? No one here reads all the info. They skim and post their opinion, that's all. Scary.

Ok, so my opinion is . . . YES! William (Bill) Heirens should be allowed parole - actually there are a lot of people like myself who believe that he is innocent and his conviction should be overturned.

[kraftijam]

Actually more on topic (perhaps) he is not just "old" . . . he is wheelchair bound, he has very limited vision, he is diabetic ... So he is not well - he is housed full-time in a medical unit (minimum security, I might add). Had I the money and the space (I have 2 children in a 2 bedroom house) I would be more than willing to have him live with us...

[redbird4848]

Originally Posted by KevK

Life should mean just that- LIFE. That means when he dies his sentence ends. Not before.

Actually a Life sentence includes the right to be considered for Parole. Life Without Parole means just what it says. Only LWOP and the Death Sentence do not have the right to be considered for Parole.

What many people don't realize is that a person can change. Sometimes a person commits a crime, even murder, at a very young age, and then spends the next 30, 40 years in lock up, and some, a very few, actually grow up, realize the futility of their prior ways and become better people. (And no, I am not a bleeding heart, I WORK in the prison system. I know first hand about inmates.)

That in itself does not mean a person should be granted Parole. Parole is based on the circumstances of the crime itself, the inmates record on past community supervision, what his record is like while incarcerated, and what kind of support he has from the community.

And sadly, there is always money. Some folks have money, and money breeds connections. I have seen guys make Parole because their daddy knows senator so and so.

Regarding the OP, a lot of states have sentence commutations based on medical reasons, but normally those are for people with life threatening illnesses who have less than a year to live. It saves the State money, and the person is usually deemed as no longer a threat to society.

[kraftijam]

Originally Posted by delusianne

don't roll the dice if you can't pay the price.

OMG old cliches abound !!!!!!!!!