PREPARING FOR PAROLE: A TRAINING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

PREPARING FOR PAROLE: A TRAINING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

Preparing to apply for parole involves a lot of paperwork. Anyone who has a family member or friend who is or will be eligible for parole in New York State is invited to learn what to expect when preparing the application, what written advocacy materials can be submitted to the Board of Parole, and how […]

The Reality of Young People Sentenced to Life Without Parole

The Reality of Young People Sentenced to Life Without Parole

BY DIANE DIMOND Last week, I wrote about the plight of Pamela Smart, who, in 1991, at the age of 22, was found guilty of conspiracy to murder her husband. Gregg Smart was shot dead by his wife’s 16-year-old lover and another teenager. Pamela was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. […]

The Myth of Veterans and Crime

The Myth of Veterans and Crime

BY DIANE DIMOND As Veterans Day 2017 is fresh in mind, let’s do more than just thank military members for their service. Let’s all do our part to erase some of the persistent myths about our returning veterans. First, military training and exposure to combat does not create the wacko battle-scarred solider so often depicted […]

How Many Tyra Pattersons Are There?

How Many Tyra Pattersons Are There?

BY DIANE DIMOND It’s one of those criminal cases that makes you shake your head in disbelief. Within a few weeks, 42-year-old Tyra Patterson will be released from an Ohio prison after serving 23 years for a murder she is now widely believed not to have committed. She will have spent more than half her […]

No Excuse for Cruel and Unusual Prisoner Punishment

BY DIANE DIMOND If you are reading this anywhere in America, you know firsthand that this summer has been a record-breaking sizzler. We could be living though the hottest summer season ever. Think about what you’ve done to keep cool. You’ve turned on your air conditioner, or (if you don’t have one) maybe you’ve gone […]