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

DATE: FRIDAY, August 12, 1994                   TAG: 9408120091
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Short

PAROLE REFORM TALKS 'PRODUCTIVE'

Black leaders met privately with the co-chairman of Gov. George Allen's parole reform commission Thursday to discuss their concerns about his proposal to end parole for violent offenders.

Former federal prosecutor Richard Cullen, whose commission drafted a proposal to be considered in a special legislative session Sept. 19, said the meeting was productive but ``the fundamental issue of abolishing parole is not open for discussion.''

Linda Byrd Harden, executive secretary of the Virginia State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, called the dialogue ``open and frank.'' She said another meeting will be held after the commission finishes work on its proposal.

``We agree there needs to be reform,'' she said. But she added that black leaders want to make sure the proposal is fair to minorities.

Other concerns, she said, are the cost of building new prisons and the need for a process that would allow inmates who rehabilitate themselves to petition for early release.

``We've been assured we will be given an opportunity to have input,'' Harden said.

Said Cullen, ``We learned some things that will be helpful to us.'' He said the black leaders were ``motivated by good concerns.''

by CNB