PAROLE BOARD RESCINDS CONTROVERSIAL POLICY

The Pardon and Parole Board has dropped its guidelines for life-
without-parole inmates to apply for clemency. In a prepared statement,
Board Chairwoman Stephanie Chappelle said Friday that the board
withdrew the policy from its list of "special consideration
applications" for early parole.

Some life-without-parole inmates would have been eligible for release
after 15 years in prison under the guidelines.

The board's policy was designed to create a process that addressed the
loophole in the life-without-parole law.

Inmates sentenced to life without parole are not eligible for parole
under state law. But a 1987 law does allow these inmates to apply for
clemency.

The board's decision to drop the guidelines pleased El Reno resident
Dan McDaniel, a member of the Homicide Survivors Support Group.

"Unless there's a severe injustice where a pardon might be in play,
that might be one in a million, the rest of them should die in prison,
and I'm glad to see the Pardon and Parole Board has arrived at the
right answer," McDaniel said.

Dan Mahoney, spokesman for Gov. Frank Keating, said Keating also is
happy with the board's recent decision.

"Life without parole has to mean just that, life without parole, and
we should not make it any easier for those serving life without parole
to have their sentences commuted. So the governor is pleased that the
board did the right thing."

J.D. Daniels, parole board assistant director, said public reaction to
the policy had a lot to do with its demise.

"A lot of people, especially the victims' families, were upset it was
on the application process," he said.

McDaniel agreed.

"I don't want to take all the blame or all the credit, but I think we
stirred up the hornet's nest," he said. "I honestly believe they felt
the pressure because it's been applied from several different places.
When you're wrong to begin with and the people begin to speak, it's
time to listen to the people, and I think that has happened in this
case."

The policy set down several guidelines in which inmates serving life
without parole could apply for clemency.

Life-without-parole inmates would not be eligible to apply if they'd
already been considered for clemency within 12 months of applying.

Inmates cited with misconduct within 12 months of applying also would
not be eligible.

Although the policy is off the books, the board will discuss it again
in April, said board member Currie Ballard.

Not everyone serving life without parole is convicted of murder.
Sixteen inmates serving the sentence are convicted drug dealers,
Ballard said.

"I'm personally going to look at that," Ballard said. "Life without
parole for drug trafficking? A non-violent offense? We've got
murderers on our docket now. I'm looking for some parity."

The board's vote to pass the policy in February was 5-0. It was 4-0 to
scrap it, with former board member Flint Breckinridge absent.

Mahoney said he understands why the board made the policy, but doesn't
think the guidelines were appropriate.

"The board acted in good faith when they passed the guidelines. ... I
don't think they tried to make it easier, but it did send a dangerous
message that life without parole was losing its meaning," Mahoney said.

Ballard said the controversy surrounding the policy has been fueled by
misunderstanding.

"It was designed to create a filter in the application process,"
Ballard said. "We've been inundated with letters from people who want
to be released before their docket date."

Chappelle's letter said board members often receive between 400 and
800 inmate letters a month, with 20 percent of those coming from
prisoners "outside the normal process" for parole or commutation.
Those include life-without-parole inmates.

Only one Oklahoman serving life without parole has been recommended
for clemency. In August 2000, the board voted 3-2 to commute convicted
killer Cathy Sue Lamb's life-without-parole sentence to a life
sentence. Gov. Keating rejected the recommendation.