Saying she has less than six months to live, former Charles Manson family member Susan Atkins has requested to be released from prison. Atkins has evidently had a leg amputated and has brain cancer.
The California Institution for Women in Corona has already approved her request for release, saying she no longer represents a threat to society. she has been jailed since 1971, the longest of women prisoners in California.
Even though she has been given approval by the California Institution for Women, she would have to have a couple other things line up for her in order to be set free.
First, leaders at the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations would have to give their ok and a positive recommendation, and from there it would be sent to the state Board of Parole, which would then perform an investigation and let their findings be known. At the Board of Parole hearing it could include comments from the public.
Atkins was part of the Manson family cult which went on a two-day rampage in the Los Angeles area in 1969. The most well known victim of the murder spree was Sharon Tate, who was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time, and married to the notorious Roman Polanski.
Atkins, who is now 59, made the request for "Compassionate release" last month after a docter gave her about 6 months to live. It's not clear if she made the request herself or someone else did on her behalf.
Do you think she should be allowed to be released?
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