What are the legal requirements for parole? I'm not really certain how the system works.
In my view, his crime is not worse than that of any other murder, nor better. If he is eligible for parole under whatever the ordinary rules are, then he should get it. If not, then not. He's not a special person.
Parole grant is highly discretionary. Generally speaking the Parole Board considers four areas:
1) public safety - are there indicators that the individual no longer poses a threat to the public? What are the (probable) odds the individual will not reoffend (commit the same or similar crime(s) again? What are the odds the individual will commit any crime?
2) rehabilitation - what has the individual done to rehabilitate the deficits that were considered as contributing to the commission of their crime/life of crime? Prior to sentencing a report is generated giving the psychosocial history of te individual, specifically focusing on possible contributing factors to criminal behavior. While not a list of excuses, it does document areas where "the system" believes had the deficits (lack of education, history of drug abuse, poor family environment (early divorce/unmarried parent, familial history of crime, poor or non-existent employment skills/history of employment, and so forth) not existed the liklihood of commission of the crime/any crimes would have been lower. Most specifically they are looking to see if te individual has attained a GED, completed more than one trades training program, attended substance abuse/sex offender/anger control programs, and the like. For those with some college under their belts before incarceration they look to see if they served as tutors in the education programs, worked as clerks/aides, etc.
3) remorse - does the individual indicate that they "understand" that committing their crime(s) was "a bad thing"? Does the individual now indicate possession of empathy? Are they sorry for anything except having been caught? Go watch the scene in
The Shawshank Redemption - it is still pretty much like that.
4) public impact - how will the release of this individual impact the general public. Parole Board members are appointed by the Governor. How will their actions affect his political career and thus their continued employment and future employment? Usually this is expressed in terms such as "due to the heinous nature of your crime" or "having shown utter depravity which cannot at this time be overcome despite rehabilitative efforts" or "due to the lengthy and continuous history of criminal behavior".
In other words, a parole hearing is a minstrel show on the part of the inmate and a crap shoot on the part of the board. Except that modern parole hearings are not done with the inmate sitting/standing in front of te Board. Interviewers are sent out to interrogate the inmate and review the prison records, and then submit a written report that is circulated among the members of the Board. As soon as a majority vote is reached, the record stops circulating.
Sirhan Sirhan could have discovered not cures but methods of preventing cancer, the common cold, teenage pregnancy, halitosis, and dandruff, and he still will not be granted parole. At least not during the normal period of time he is expected to remain alive. Maybe if he outlives everybody who "remembers" the Kennedys as mythical figures who were going to save the world he might then stand a chance. [Danny Vermin voice] Maybe. [/Danny Vermin voice]
stay safe.
