Letter to the Editor
New York Times
Via: Email
March 20, 2018
To the Editor:
In response to your editorial: “Don’t Let Parole Become a Meaningless Concept,” it is clear that the first true test of the recently enacted revised parole board guidelines has demonstrated a fatal flaw in the theory.
By effectively making the nature of the crime the least important consideration, we have literally opened the prison door for cop-killers and mass murderers to game the system with false contrition to gain undeserved freedom.
Even progressive NY State has recognized through legislation that some crimes are so heinous, that the appropriate sentence is life without parole.
Herman Bell is one such person. With the blood of at least three police officers on his hands, it took him over 40 years to admit to the horrible, sadistic murder of two NYC police officers as his only chance for release.
Herman Bell is one such person. With the blood of at least three police officers on his hands, it took him over 40 years to admit to the horrible, sadistic murder of two NYC police officers as his only chance for release.
It was only dumb luck that Bell was convicted after the death penalty was declared unconstitutional making 25 years to life, which allows parole, the strongest penalty. Bell’s sentencing judge said that if the death penalty was available, Bell and his murdering partners would have been sentenced to it.
The parole board must reevaluate their faulty scorecard to make the nature of the crime a significant consideration. Seven prior parole panels denied parole to this horrible, murdering coward and it should be denied for every cop-killer.
This union will do everything possible to reverse this miscarriage of justice and to ensure that cop-killers, regardless of when they were convicted, spend the rest of their natural lives in prison for the good of society.
Sincerely,
Patrick J. Lynch
President