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OJ Simpson Granted Parole

Update: the vote was unanimous for parole among the four board/commission members. Each spoke individually. They said their vote was fair and consistent.

Update: Looks like OJ will get parole. They have a Florida parole officer explaining the procedures for transfer from Nevada to Florida.

OJ told his version of the robbery he was convicted of during the hearing. It's live on CNN and other channels now.

My view: OJ should get and will get parole. [More...]

At the beginning of the hearing, the hearing officer told OJ he had numerous mitigating factors and only one aggravating factor -- the robbery itself, in which his victims stated they were in fear for their lives. Among the significant mitigating factors were his lack of any disciplinary history while he's been imprisoned, his completion of significant rehabilitation programs, low risk assessment and lack of prior criminal convictions.

Another board member said they had hundreds of letters in support and opposed to the parole. She added the board is not considering the 1995 events (meaning the murder of Nicole Simpson.)

At parole hearings, in my experience, it's not good for the inmate if he denies guilt. OJ admits responsibility for bringing the guys with guns to the meeting but is minimizing his involvement. While I have always found OJ's version credible, but I'm not sure it's what the parole hearing officers want to hear.

He does better during the portion on the courses he took. The alternatives to violence class he said was the most important. When asked how he would use it, he said maybe with his children. He doesn't have conflicts on the street.

He's been imprisoned for 9 years. He missed 36 birthdays with his children.

On restitution, he goes on and on with an excuse. (All he had to say was the restitution was paid and the property was returned.)

OJ's daughter speaks, she struggled to maintain her composure and did well.

OJ's lawyer speaks and runs on a little bit.

OJ is his own best witness. His closing was terrific -- he repeatedly said he respected the jury system, apologized to the state of Nevada and said he was sorry things turned out this way. (Jeffrey Toobin on CNN was almost apoplectic taking the opposite view, mocking OJ for saying he's lived a conflict free life. OJ was clearly tying that to his life on the street -- he was was never in gangs, involved in robberies, or any kind of crime. He was not addressing his personal life. He even stated at one point he had not been a faithful husband.)

If OJ were denied parole, the parole officer says his time would be up 9/29/22, due to good time credits and other applicable Nevada laws.

I think what matters most to the parole board is that OJ has a very low risk of re-offending. While he had a ton of excuses for what happened in the hotel room, he was probably remorseful enough to get by. The parole board is deliberating now.

I had to mute CNN due to their panelists' over the top negative views of O.J. Simpson. They just can't let go of 1995, which has zero to do with this case. What's next? Will they bring out the Brown family? No wonder I don't watch cable news any more.

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  • Display: Sort:
    I firmly believe that OJ (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Jul 20, 2017 at 01:40:44 PM EST
    was sentenced in Nevada for what happened in California. His sentence for robbery was excessive. Not saying one way another anything about the murder case. I just believe the Nevada court used that case in sentencing him. Which was wrong.

    I agree (none / 0) (#5)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jul 20, 2017 at 01:50:03 PM EST
    and I followed that trial.

    Parent
    I apologize, Jeralyn (none / 0) (#1)
    by NYShooter on Thu Jul 20, 2017 at 12:46:13 PM EST
    This is off topic, but, we don't have a current open thread. Last one was last Saturday. There's so much going on in the world and no place to discuss them.

    First, I'm thinking about the recent death of James McGill Buchanan. Buchanan was an American economist known for his work on "public choice theory." Basically, his thesis was, Capital rules, the hell with everyone else. It' not just an obscure idea dreamed up by a crazy person. It's a program to privatize everything in America that Government now manages, and its (stealthy) implementation has already begun, supported and financed, in part, by Charles Koch. It clarifies, and puts into perspective the actions of The Far Right that have already been set into motion. (Trump?)

    Some background.

    thanks, I'll start an open thread (none / 0) (#2)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jul 20, 2017 at 01:34:17 PM EST
    and you can repost it there.

    Parent
    Aw... (none / 0) (#3)
    by NYShooter on Thu Jul 20, 2017 at 01:39:05 PM EST
    You're the best!

    Parent
    There will never be unanimity (none / 0) (#6)
    by NYShooter on Thu Jul 20, 2017 at 02:16:48 PM EST
    regarding what was right, or, wrong about the Nevada sentence. So many people in the criminal justice field believe the California verdict was a result of jury nullification. This made the job for the Nevada panel extremely difficult. If they felt that the first verdict was decided incorrectly then they would be letting a brutal murderer back onto the street. If they used the logic that "a verdict (right or wrong) is a verdict," then the Nevada sentence was, obviously, too long.

    And, just like 1995, today's decision will be hotly debated for years and years.

    So tired of anything to do with him. (none / 0) (#7)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Jul 20, 2017 at 02:44:00 PM EST
    I've read that he's paid the Goldman's less than 1% of the civil judgement against him.

    If only he would just go away.


    Per the Oscar-winning documentary "O.J.: Made in America," the sad and tragic story of Nicole Brown Simpson is certainly not one of LAPD's finest hours. She was victimized repeatedly by her ex-husband, both in life and posthumously. And yet members of L.A.'s Finest appeared more enthralled by the aura of his celebrity, than they were concerned over her plight as an abused spouse.

    Parent
    Speaking of Fred and Kim Goldman, ... (none / 0) (#9)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jul 21, 2017 at 01:51:37 PM EST
    ... I suppose that it was only a matter of time until they weighed in on the subject. Fred's son and Kim's brother Ron Goldman paid the ultimate price for merely being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Per CBS News, they sound ready to renew the battle.

    Parent
    I don't understand CNN's love of Toobin (none / 0) (#10)
    by McBain on Fri Jul 21, 2017 at 06:18:15 PM EST
    It fells like they've given him a lifetime contract.  Here's F. L Bailey briefly talking about the parole decision and Jeffrey Toobin...