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Health & Fitness

Limited Victims' Rights Finally Recognized in Pennsylvania

Occasionally, the Pennsylvania General Assembly acts in the public interest, and that is what has occurred through the unanimous passage of legislation which allows crime victims and/or their representative(s) to testify at parole hearings for the criminals that shattered their lives.

 

Pennsylvania had been behind the times in regard to victims' rights as it is in a multitude of other ways.  I remember years ago watching relatives of murder victims of the loony Charles Manson and his gang of killers testify at his "theater of the absurd" regular parole hearings.  It is in part due to their steadfastness and diligence, and that of the esteemed prosecutor in the case, that Manson has not ever been seriously considered for parole and is not likely ever to be granted release.  He and his fellow murderous savages should have been executed decades ago, but in lieu of that, life in prison will have to suffice.  No one that was affected by his crime spree should ever have to worry that he will be sprung from prison.

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Pennsylvania has taken a step forward in prioritizing those that have suffered due to the barbaric acts of heinous criminals.  Now, if only we had a death penalty statute that had not been nullified by our liberal courts.

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