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

DATE: TUESDAY, August 30, 1994                   TAG: 9408300093
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

ANTI-PAROLE GROUP PLANS TV ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

The Allen administration on Monday fired yet another salvo in its campaign to abolish parole, unveiling plans for a citizen-financed television advertising 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 Allen has summoned lawmakers to Richmond on Sept. 19 for a special session on abolishing parole and reforming sentencing.

Cullen said the television 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 Jim Gilmore.

by CNB