Ohio Parole Board sets serial rapist on the prowl

June 04, 2004
Cleveland Plain Dealer

What does the Ohio Parole Board have against the state's elderly women? As a recent article points out ("Convicted rapist will be paroled, must register," May 28), a parole board has decided to release a man with a criminal record going back 40 years, including convictions for attempted rape as well as sexual assaults of women aged 72 and 84. In fact, he raped again just four days after being released from a halfway house following time served for attempted rape. He has served less than 20 years of his original sentence of 22 to 110 years. And he has been diagnosed as a sexual deviant "with a very high risk of offending again."

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This is a perfect example of why states are abolishing parole boards. It's also a good reason why The Plain Dealer should adopt a policy of naming parole board members and telling how they vote in cases the newspaper reports about.

The most interesting question not addressed in the article, but one we can all guess the answer to, is this: How many members of the Ohio Parole Board are elderly women?

Michael Paranzino
Kensington, Md

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