THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 9, 1994 TAG: 9406090744
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: D5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: 940609 LENGTH: ROANOKE
As with the commission's first town meeting in Alexandria last week, several crime victims gave emotional accounts of their ordeals and complained that their attackers had committed previous violent crimes and served little time behind bars.
{REST} Cregger's first and last rape victims in Wythe County testified that their experiences exemplified what they see as a fact: repeat sex offenders cannot be rehabilitated and should spend longer periods behind bars.
``These men don't get better, they just get more violent as time goes by,'' Marilyn Crisp told the commission Wednesday night.
Ms. Crisp said Cregger raped her in November 1991, 13 years after he raped Connie Seagle and two days before he killed himself while being chased by police.
``Time and time again he was released with only minimal punishment,'' Ms. Seagle said.
Wythe County Sheriff Wayne Pike, a member of the commission, said Cregger once took him on a tour of 62 homes where he peeked at women in the windows. A sex offense, Pike said, ``was his only gratification ... the system never took this offender seriously.''
Wythe County Sheriff's Capt. Doug Cooley said Virginia's revolving-door justice system - with inmates serving a small percentage of their sentences - is making criminals arrogant and frustrating law enforcement officers.
``Those attitudes are what I think you people can change,'' Cooley told the commission.
Bob Leonard told how agonizing it is to go to Richmond every year to oppose the parole of the man who killed his mother and grandfather and kidnapped him when he was a 16-year-old in 1975.
``I can not understand why these people should even be considered for parole,'' Leonard said.
``It dramatizes the impact of the parole system on the victims,'' former U.S. Attorney General William Barr, the commission co-chairman, said of Leonard's story.
But several people, including a prosecutor, said they were concerned that abolishing parole - which would require more prison construction - may be too expensive for taxpayers. The commission is still working on a cost estimate.
Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Don Caldwell said he supports truth-in-sentencing and stiffer penalties for violent offenders. But he added, ``I don't know if we as taxpayers can afford to abolish parole. There are people salvageable in prison who are worth taking a risk on.''
Johnette Shabazz said taking away prisoners' hope for parole would be dangerous for correctional officers and hurt efforts to rehabilitate inmates so they don't commit crimes when they eventually serve all their time.
{KEYWORDS} PAROLE COMMISSION REFORM by CNB