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| Governor paroles killer -- apparent new policy |
| By San Francisco Chronicle |
| Published: 12/01/2003 |
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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took the first step last week in setting out his agenda on crime -- and distinguishing himself from his predecessor - - by allowing a Sacramento man convicted of a 1985 murder to be released on parole. In his first week in office, the governor last Thursday let stand a decision by the state parole board to release Fred Nesbit, 63, who had served 17 years in prison for shooting to death the boyfriend of his estranged wife. The day before, however, Schwarzenegger had blocked the release of a Visalia man who killed a woman during a 1986 drunken-driving spree. The governor's decision to let Nesbit walk free signaled a dramatic departure from the approach taken by former Gov. Gray Davis, who was accused by civil rights groups of having in effect a no-parole policy for convicted murderers. Of the 267 inmates convicted of murder and granted parole during his nearly five years in office, Davis approved the release of only eight, including three women who said they killed their victims after years of abuse. Schwarzenegger's actions came days after his administration agreed to make sweeping changes to the state's outdated parole system by granting prompt hearings to alleged parole violators and providing nonviolent parolees with the option of drug and alcohol treatment programs instead of a trip back to prison. The governor's actions may be the first steps in crafting his policy on crime and punishment. During the campaign, he said virtually nothing about the criminal justice system, disclosing only that he supported the death penalty. A spokesperson for Schwarzenegger gave a general outline of the governor's approach to parole cases. "Gov. Schwarzenegger intends to let the Board of Prison Terms do its job,'' said Vincent Sollitto. "Only when he has a strong conviction that a clear error has been made does he intend to review the granting or denial of parole.'' |
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