Leslie Van Houten up for parole again

[Recidivist]

It saddens me how it seems so easy to wish harm on this woman. Why not hope for her success? She committed a horrible crime as a teen, and then spent the rest of her life in prison. She worked to become a better person, a contributing member of the prison society. We have a parole board, who for years has ruled she should be paroled. Those rulings were based on her prison record. But really of all the felons routinely being released, she poses no danger. You may not like the legal outcome, but is it a legitimate reason to wish her harm? God is forgiving. It will not be easy for her, but for her remaining years I hope she succeeds. Hate is bad.

imo...of course

 

[LinasK]

I wouldn't doubt it lonetraveler. At this point, nothing would surprise me. I can't believe she is out.

Tex Watson should never be released, he is an evil man. He can flaunt religion all he wants, but he disgusts me. It boils down to a power struggle between Watson and Manson, and innocent people paid with their lives. Manson was manipulative as is Watson.

Neither should Patricia Krenwinkle. The people who clamor for Van Houten's release will want her released next. Thank God Susan Atkins died in prison.

 

[IceIce9]

She would have been paroled 20 years ago if this case wasn’t so high-profile and it didn’t turn into a political thing to prevent her release.

She did 54 years for doing a horrible thing as a teenager. She didn’t get off lightly.

She got off more lightly than her victims. The victims and their families received a life sentence. JMO

 

[Melquiades]

She got off more lightly than her victims. The victims and their families received a life sentence. JMO

This is just kind of a platitude that you could say about pretty much every single murderer (or manslaughterer, or whatever) in history. Of course she did. Every parolee does.

But in civilized society we allow for the fact that some violent criminals can be rehabilitated and re-integrated into society.

 

[arielilane]

Crimes That Shook America: The Manson Family and the Tragic Tale of the LaBiancas on Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan … https://iheart.com/podcast/269-body-bags-with-joseph-scot-87375583/episode/crimes-that-shook-america-the-manson-family-and-the-tragic-tale-of-the-labiancas-119310647/?cmp=android_share&sc=android_social_share&pr=false

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682784586957299712

https://twitter.com/JoScottForensic

 

[dgfred]

She would have been paroled 20 years ago if this case wasn’t so high-profile and it didn’t turn into a political thing to prevent her release.

She did 54 years for doing a horrible thing as a teenager. She didn’t get off lightly.

You do realize she went to murders both nights. She had most of a day to think about what had happened the first night... but was ready for the 2nd. Death penalty should equal Life without parole IMO.

 

[Melquiades]

You do realize she went to murders both nights. She had most of a day to think about what had happened the first night... but was ready for the 2nd. Death penalty should equal Life without parole IMO.

She was only there for the second set of murders. The first night was Watson/Atkins/Krewinkel/Kasabian.

 

[dgfred]

But she knew exactly what had happened the night before. She missed out.

 

[Richard]

But she knew exactly what had happened the night before. She missed out.

Yes she did, and that is what makes her participation in the LaBianca murders premeditated.

Unfortunately for "poor Leslie" she has now missed out on being the record holder as the longest held woman prisoner in United States history. Than honor falls to her partner in murder, Patricia Krenwinkel (currently at 52 years and 94 days -not including time in jail prior to conviction).

Check out the link below for some interesting information about long term prisoners - some of whom were subsequently paroled in their old age.

Unfortunately, Leslie was some how left off the list. Perhaps it can be corrected to include her.

LINK:

List of longest prison sentences served - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Richard]

Will Patricia Krenwinkel be next to be turned loose by the state of California? She too was recommended for Parole by the parole board and she was also denied parole by Governor Newsome.


Convicted murderers Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel (center), and Leslie Van Houghton laughing about their crimes and death sentences.

A California Supreme Court ruling reversed Gavin Newsome's decision to deny parole for Leslie Van Houghton. Could that ruling be a legal precedent for Krenwinkel's parole as well? After all, Newsome describes her as "a victim" in his decision.

--------------------------------
From a CNN article:

Krenwinkel, 74, was convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder in the August 1969 Manson family attacks that left seven people dead. Among the victims was pregnant actress Sharon Tate, who was married to director Roman Polanski, Folger Coffee heiress Abigail Folger and celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring.

During the 1969 killing spree, Krenwinkel pursued and stabbed Folger 28 times, Krenwinkel said in court testimony.

Newsom said that despite her age at the time of the killings, her positive behavior in prison and current age, Krenwinkel remains unsuitable for parole.

“Ms. Krenwinkel was not only a victim of Mr. Manson’s abuse. She was also a significant contributor to the violence and tragedy that became the Manson Family’s legacy,” Newsom said in his parole reversal decision. “Beyond the brutal murders she committed, she played a leadership role in the cult, and an enforcer of Mr. Manson’s tyranny.”

The review cited her lack of insight into “the causative factors of her crime and her triggers for antisocial thinking” as reasons for denying her parole for a fifteenth time.

“While Ms. Krenwinkel has matured in prison and engaged in commendable rehabilitative efforts, her efforts have not sufficiently reduced her risk for future dangerousness,” the review said...

LINK:

California governor blocks parole for Manson family member Patricia Krenwinkel | CNN

California Gov. Gavin Newsom blocked the parole of Patricia Krenwinkel, a former Charles Manson follower and convicted murderer in a notorious 1969 killing spree, saying "she currently poses an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety."

www.cnn.com

 

[LinasK]

She was only there for the second set of murders. The first night was Watson/Atkins/Krewinkel/Kasabian.

Only. The LaBianca murders were gruesome enough. She deserved the Death Penalty!

 

[Richard]

Still smirking after all these years. Wonder how her parole is working out.

 

[Chimera]

Unbelievably brutal.
Those poor victims.
Manson's cult didn't even know them, the victims had done nothing !

 

[10ofRods]

She got off more lightly than her victims. The victims and their families received a life sentence. JMO

The "eye for an eye" idea is certainly still prevalent. Not everyone has the same ethical ideal, though.

I don't see smirking.

But she knew exactly what had happened the night before. She missed out.

I didn't realize that. Do you have a source? TIA.

 

[Richard]

There haven't been any updates on how Leslie is doing since being paroled last July. I wonder if they have allowed her to handle any knives.

 

[branmuffin]

I think part of the reason LVH was granted parole was because she, more than the other two women, showed much more contrition and ownership of the crimes she committed. She was active in prison education, etc. And it's a fact that the recidivism rate for parolees who have committed murder are the least likely candidates to reoffend. (Of course that doesn't include serial killers). It's also true that recidivism for lesser crimes like theft or assault is the highest. I don't believe the death penalty is a deterrent, well for the deceased inmate, that's 100% deterrent.

People do change and LVH seems to be one of those people, but I can't help but think that an intelligent, introspective and rehabilitated individual who has shown contrition for their act should at least consider, intellectually, that remaining in prison for the rest of their lives is an equitable trade for the lives they took.

I also think that the American prison system seems more focused on retribution than rehabilitation that creates the revolving door of recidivism. And I believe that many times when a prisoner's parole has been revoked by a government official, like Newsom and his predecessors, it has more to do with covering their own asses than from an informed assessment.

In Canada, many people were up in arms when they found out that Correctional Services of Canada was moving Paul Bernardo to a medium security prison last year. They were out for blood, blaming Prime Minister Trudeau for the transfer when in fact, Corrections Canada is a stand alone organization that makes those decisions. Gee, can you imagine what would happen if a political figure had sway over who stays in prison, who gets put in prison and who gets released?

 

[BeachSky]

There haven't been any updates on how Leslie is doing since being paroled last July. I wonder if they have allowed her to handle any knives.

Great post. Says it all.

 

[Sonny Crockett]

To everyone who feels it was acceptable that this murdering, manipulative psychopath got out on parole - I'm absolutely certain that you still wouldn't want her living next to you....or even in your neighborhood/area.

And, if you say you'd be OK with it - I definitely wouldn't believe you.

 

[borndem]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...
The killers were given the Death Penalty. Then CA did away with the DP. Well, okay. BUT how does someone who was initially given the DP get a chance for parole??? Damm.

 

[Cool Cats]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...
The killers were given the Death Penalty. Then CA did away with the DP. Well, okay. BUT how does someone who was initially given the DP get a chance for parole??? Damm.

Charles Manson Was Sentenced to Death. Why Wasn’t He Executed? | HISTORY

The cult leader and mass murderer got parole hearings until the very end.

www.history.com

Year That States Adopted Life Without Parole (LWOP) Sentencing

# State Year Notes Source 1 Alabama 1981 Code of Alabama 2 Alaska* No LWOP Prison Legal News 3 Arizona 1993 Arizona Legislature …

deathpenaltyinfo.org

This is how:

At the time that Manson and his followers had their death sentences commuted, California did not have a life without parole sentence.

Usually when a death sentence is commuted it is commuted to LWOP. But when a State does not have LWOP then the harshest sentence that can be employed is Life With Parole.

California

1976

1976 - Year LWOP was added to statute; 1978 - Year LWOP Sentencing went into effect