This week, Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia) voiced her concerns for Assembly Bill 4319, a bill that would permit the Board of Parole to evaluate all inmates over the age of 55 for possible parole release. Inmates eligible would be those who have served at least 15 years in prison regardless of completing their minimum sentence.

The bill was introduced a week before parole was granted to domestic terrorist Judith M. Clark, a known cop killer who only served about 37 years out of her original 75-to-life prison sentence. Judith Clark was a member of a communist organization in the early eighties and aided in the Brink's robbery of 1981, causing the death of two police officers and a security guard.

“Criminals have had a successful year so far thanks to state Majority. Their new bill allows inmates over 55 years old to be considered for parole, regardless of serving their minimum sentence,” said Byrnes. “If we continue down this path, we will only see an increase in the amount of criminals in this state. I urge my fellow legislators to shift their focus before being behind bars becomes better than being on the outside.”