
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 6, 1994                   TAG: 9402060110
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

ALLEN TELLS CRIME SHOW ABOUT ABOLISHING PAROLE

Abolishing parole is not the only answer to violent crime and the fear it has generated, Gov. George Allen said in an interview for a crimefighting television show.

Allen said that even if parole were abolished, post-release supervision of former inmates would be important. But he said that supervision is something that should be added on top of a prison sentence, not something that shortens it.

"We do need to get after these violent criminals and get them out of circulation, because that in itself will prevent other crimes from being committed," he said.

Allen spoke about his parole plans Friday with "America's Most Wanted" for an episode scheduled to air Feb. 26 on the Fox television network.

The governor's Commission on Parole Abolition and Sentencing Reform meets for the first time Monday.

"The people of Virginia made it clear - they want truth in sentencing," Allen said. "They don't want what we have here in Virginia, which is a 10-year sentence meaning two years."

Because of parole and time off for good behavior, Virginia allows some first-time offenders to serve as little as one-sixth of their sentences.

by CNB