Lifers Parole – Talking Points
It is crucial that we contact our delegates and senators and urge them to approve action this year in the State legislature. In particular we need to address Delegate Joseph F. Vallario, Jr., the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee and Senator Bobby A. Zirkin, the Chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Those committees must first approve the legislation before it is heard by the full body.
So, in turn, we urge you to email Senator Zirkin and Delegate Valerio using the links below. It is best if you add a message in your own words to the email, but just in case we have provided a few talking points which you could cut-and-paste into your email as you wish.
Talking Points
The states of Maryland, California, and Oklahoma are the three remaining states that require Gubernatorial approval for parole release of persons sentenced to a parole-eligible sentence.
Even after the Parole Commission makes an independent merit-based determination of parole suitability, the Governor’s approval is still required.
A number of persons have reached, or exceeded the sentencing limits of the judges who imposed their parole-eligible life terms or other lengthy sentences years ago.
Despite the rehabilitative efforts made by these same prisoners, parole has become elusive in the State of Maryland.
The governor should not be put in a position that puts his reputation so directly on the line.
The parole process is well understood, and by reaffirming that process this committee can assure a triple win: it will reassert the rule of law; it will relieve the governor of potential accusations; and it will give hope to many valuable citizens to return to productive civilian lives.
Now is the time for the Maryland General Assembly to remove the Governor from the parole process to prevent further distortion of the parole process.
With merit-based re-entry, the Maryland Parole Commission would continue to be able to determine parole suitability.
Email Links
