THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, August 30, 1994               TAG: 9408300415
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                           LENGTH: Short :   33 lines

MAYOR FRAIM HELPS LEAD ALLEN'S ANTI-PAROLE DRIVE

The Allen administration on Monday fired yet another salvo in its campaign to abolish parole, unveiling plans for a citizen-financed television ad campaign.

A bipartisan group of civic leaders - led by Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, Richmond City Manager Robert Bobb and former Richmond television anchorwoman Lisa LaFata - will head the fund-raising drive.

``We're so close to having some real reform,'' said former U.S. Attorney Richard Cullen, who headed the governor's parole commission and announced the formation of Citizens for Abolishing Parole.

``We want to make sure we're doing everything we can,'' he said.

Gov. George F. Allen has summoned lawmakers to Richmond on Sept. 19 for a special session on abolishing parole and reforming sentencing.

Cullen said the TV ads will probably be ready within the next 10 days and will likely be shown during the special session.

Fraim said he agreed to help head the group because the Allen proposal, which includes prison building, ``will greatly help us in Norfolk, where we have a terrible problem with jail overcrowding.''

Cullen said there's no connection between Citizens for Abolishing Parole and another anti-parole lobbying group recently formed by Attorney General James S. Gilmore III. by CNB