Renita Roberson
Eng.1302 W.34
Professor Miles
April 28,2016
Reversion of Parole for Member of the Mason Family
Dear Governor Jerry Brown:
I am writing this letter as a petition in hopes of appealing the decision granted by the California State Parole Board to allow Leslie Van Houten consideration for freedom.
Your decision reversing the board’s grant of parole for Ms. Houten’s release from the California Institution For Women should solely be based on substantial evidence that Houten is a dangerous threat if released back into society. With murder being the most inhumane act of crime, the continued punishment should be of a comparable caliber. It takes a great degree of motivation and psychological repugnancy to commit to the horrible acts in which Ms. Houten participated. There is an overwhelming mental barrier between final acts of defiance, and who is to say that once Houten is released she would be able to have full control of that barrier?
Leslie Van Houten savagely held a pillow over Rosemary La Bianca’s face and watched as her family of cult members brutally murdered Mrs. La Bianca and her husband. Not only did she watch the attack, but also she admitted to violently stabbing Mrs. La Bianca a merely sixteen times even after realizing she had already been dead. This shows how much of little value human life means to her, because she engaged in committing a crime towards someone she’d never came into contact with prior to that night. Also, her consciousness of what she was physically doing had to be of great dominance because an average sound minded individual would not be able to commit such a heinous act without treason or motive.
With her maniacal mental state being at an all time high, this leads to the fact that the minimum counseling programs assigned in state penitentiary institutions is not enough to reform a murderer of her degree back into general population. Those individuals who commit berserk acts of crime, such as those to the extent Ms. Houten participated in; “change of mind and heart” can never fully be measured, thus risking society’s safety once again.
Lastly, and most importantly, Leslie Van Houten remaining in prison keeps the public a little safer and less vexed. If Houten was released into society once again, there could be a possible secrecy of continuation for the Mason Family, which could mean a feasible chance of uprise from followers both old and new. Since her imprisonment, the organization has reportedly grown in numbers by thousands all across the world. Releasing one of the original members of this organized cult could trigger those who follow the Mason Family to engage in vicious acts of crime as tribute. Although one would have preferably like to see Houten be punished by way of the death penalty, the long agonizing road of sitting in a cell like the animal she has subjected herself to be, is more of a louder message.
From the horrendous nature of Houten’s participation in the attack on innocent individuals and all other evidence, you should highly consider reversing the board’s decision for parole. It is clear that Lisa Van Houten would present a serious threat to the safety of society if released from prison.
