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House Committee Hears Pleas of Prisoners Serving Life Sentences

February 22, 2000
By: Kyle Elfrink
State Capital Bureau

The House Correctional Committee heard testimony on a bill aimed at giving hope to prisoners who have run out of parole opportunities. Kyle Elfrink has the story from Jefferson City.

Story:
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OutCue: SOC

The bill before the committee affects prisoners serving life without parole. If passed, the bill requires the state parole board to review the history of prisoners without parole opportunities. Helen Martin, a former prisoner freed after serving 13 years on a 50 year sentence, testified before the committee ...

Actuality:MARTIN1
RunTime: 15
OutCue: "GRAND DAUGHTER."
Contents: MARTIN SAYS SHE IS NOW A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY AFTER BEING FREED FROM PRISON.

More than 10 others testified in favor of the bill. A committee vote to send the bill to the House is expected soon.

From the state capitol, I'm Kyle Elfrink.

By: Kyle Elfrink

State Capital Bureau

A Missouri House bill would give prisoners serving life-sentences without parole, a chance at parole. Kyle Elfrink has the story from Jefferson City.

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OutCue: SOC

The House Correctional committee heard testimony from close to a dozen of supporters of the bill. Helen Martin was freed 6 years ago after serving one-third of her 50-year sentence. She says not all prisoners are good people, but the ones who are, deserve a shot at freedom ...

Actuality:MARTIN2
RunTime: 16
OutCue: "NOT VIOLENT ."
Contents: MARTIN SAYS SHE THINKS MANY PRISONERS DESERVE NO CHANCE AT PAROLE, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO WARRANT THE OPPORTUNITY.

If the bill passes, Missouri's parole board could hear evidence of prisoners with no chance at parole. They then would advise the governor on a course of action. From the state capitol, I'm Kyle Elfrink.

By: Kyle Elfrink

State Capital Bureau

A House committee heard testimony in support of a bill giving parole hearings to prisoners serving life sentences without parole. Kyle Elfrink has the story from Jefferson City.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The Correctional committee listened to more than one hour of testimony in favor of the bill. Stevie Craft, a minister at the Jefferson City correctional facility, said he's worried that too many innocent people are serving life-sentences ...

Actuality:CRAFT1
RunTime: 17
OutCue: "ON CRIME (2ND REF.)."
Contents: CRAFT SAYS THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE SERVING THE TIME WITHOUT EVER COMMITTING THE CRIME.

The committee is expected to vote on whether or not to send the bill to the House chamber in the next two weeks.

From the state capitol, I'm Kyle Elfrink.