LADY JUSTICE MAY NOT BE BLIND
In August, 2018, The Guardian ran the belowmentioned article regarding the man, Mark Chapman, that murdered John Lennon in 1980. Like Elvis, everybody in 1980 knew who John Lennon and Beatles where. Most still do today.
It appears to me that the State of New York is either harsh in meting out justice in relation to the rest of state criminal justice systems or the justice system isn't so blind, hint, hint.
Now why would I think Lady Justice in the State of New York isn't so blind:
“And while no one person’s life is any more valuable than another’s life, the fact that you chose someone who was not only a world-renowned person and beloved by millions regardless of the pain and suffering you would cause to his family, friends and so many others, you demonstrated a callous disregard for the sanctity of human life and the suffering of others. THIS FACT REMAINS A CONCERN TO THIS PANEL." (Emphasis added). https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/aug/24/john-lennon-killer-mark-chapman-denied-parole-for-tenth-time
Excuse me if this reads a little silly but isn't "you demonstrated a callous disregard for the sanctity of human life and the suffering of others." Inherent in the act of MURDER?! DUH!
I was an 8th grader when this man was gunned down. I'm not, nor have I ever been, a fan. I think the act of murder is heinous but I also believe the more rich and famous and well known the victim may be the harsher the state, any state, will be on the criminal Defendant.
In a "report [by the Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) Campaign and the Parole Preparation Project] specifically lists the egregious practices of commissioners W. William Smith and Marc Coppola. Both Smith and Coppola frequently humiliate parole applicants on the record, DENY PAROLE BASED EXCLUSIVELY ON THE NATURE OF SOMEONE'S CRIME, and donate thousands of dollars to the campaigns of the very state senators who appoint them to the board." (Emphasis added).
When did Laura Whitehorn and Dave George in an opinion article opine the above? Believe it or not it appeared September 29, 2018.
When was Mark Chapman denied parole? Less than 2 months prior.
So, could Mark Chapman have been "DENY[ied] PAROLE BASED EXCLUSIVELY ON THE NATURE OF SOMEONE'S CRIME"? Yes. I believe that Mark Chapman is being denied parole in direct relation the person whom he murdered. Had Chapman murdered Mr. Joe "no name" CrackAddict the probability of an opposite parole board decision.
Meanwhile,
In 2017, The State of Louisiana overhauled its state's criminal justice with "two of the 10 law changes" giving "immediate parole eligibility to as many as 200 people serving life sentences for murder." https://www.google.com/amp/s/articles.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/02/17_louisiana_prison_lifers_hav.amp
There are potential New York cases wherein a convicted murderer was granted parole. My basic research didn't reveal any. However, I didnt perform an exhaustive research.
Source of picture: Daily Mail