OJ Simpson Parole spurs Nevada Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner to change law for domestic violence victims- Reno Gazette Journal- Marcella Corona- Sept.26, 2017-
A Nevada assemblywoman proposed a new bill that would require the state’s Board of Parole Commissioners to consider an inmate’s history of domestic violence before they grant a request for parole.
Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner, R-Reno, announced her bill proposal on Tuesday during a news conference at the Nevada Legislative Building in Carson City. The Nevada Legislature doesn’t meet again until Feburary 2019.
Victim’s rights attorney Gloria Allred—who represented Nicole Brown Simson’s family in the infamous murder trial—suggested Krasner push for a change in state law after listening to O.J. Simpson’s testimony at his parole hearing in July.
The former NFL star turned actor was serving nine to 33 years in prison at the Lovelock Correctional Center for his role in the 2008 robbery of two sports memorabilia collectors at a Las Vegas hotel room.
His conviction was unrelated to the so-called “trial of the century,” which caught the nation’s attention following the murder of his ex-wife and her friend, Ron Goldman, in 1994.
He was granted parole in July and plans to move to Florida to be with his family.
“The real crux of the matter is public safety,” Krasner said. “Those people on the parole board should consider public safety. Is it safe to release this specific inmate out into the community, or no, it’s not safe to release this person?”
In 1995, Simpson was acquitted of the murder charges for the deaths of his ex-wife and Goldman. But he was later found liable for the slayings in civil court and was ordered to pay $33.5 million to the victims’ families.
“They did not take into consideration his prior conviction for domestic violence,” Krasner said.
During the parole hearing, members of the board told Simpson they wouldn’t question him on the murders because it was unrelated to his robbery conviction. They also stated Simpson had no prior criminal record.
“I never threatened anybody,” Simpson said at his parole hearing in July. “It was the other two security guys. I’m not trying to make any excuses, because they were in there because of me.”
“But I have never pulled a gun out on somebody in my life,” he said. “It was my property. I would never steal from anybody. I would never pull out a gun on somebody.”
