Governor Wilson denies Claudia Reddy clemency Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Fri Nov 7 03:18:27 1997 source: Judy Greenspan" GOVERNOR WILSON DENIES CLEMENCY TO CLAUDIA REDDY IN MEAN-SPIRITED FOUR PAGE LEGAL DECISION ISSUED TODAY BY HIS OFFICE. WE URGE EVERYONE TO MOVE FORWARD TO DEMAND THAT CLAUDIA REDDY BY GRANTED AN IMMEDIATE COMPASSIONATE RELEASE. PLEASE CALL OR FAX THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE BOARD OF PRISON TERMS AND DEMAND THAT CLAUDIA REDDY'S CASE BE ADDED TO THE BPT'S AGENDA FOR ITS NOVEMBER 12 MEETING. CLAUDIA REDDY REMAINS HOOKED UP TO A RESPIRATOR UNDER ARMED GUARD AT THE MADERA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. HER HUSBAND, GERRY, IS RISKING FINANCIAL RUIN TO BE WITH HER ON A DAILY BASIS. BOTH GERRY AND CLAUDIA ASK THAT SHE BE RELEASED FROM STATE PRISON CUSTODY SO THAT SHE MAY DIE IN PEACE. AT THIS POINT, IT IS MERELY A QUESTION OF REMOVING THE GUARD FROM THE DOOR OF HER ROOM. CLAUDIA CANNOT MOVE OR GO ANYWHERE. ATTACHED ARE COPIES OF A PRESS RELEASE AND LETTER TO GOVERNOR WILSON ISSUED TODAY BY THE HIV/AIDS IN PRISON PROJECT. PLEASE ADD YOUR VOICE TOMORROW AND DEMAND COMPASSIONATE RELEASE FOR CLAUDIA REDDY. PLEASE CALL DAN KOLKEY IN GOVERNOR WILSON'S OFFICE (916) 445-0873; fax no. (916) 445-4633 PLEASE ALSO CALL JIM NIELSEN OR LEW CHARTRAND OF THE BOARD OF PRISON TERMS TO DEMAND THAT CLAUDIA BE ADDED TO THEIR NOVEMBER 12 AGENDA; PHONE: (916) 445-1539; FAX: (916) 445-5242. HIV/AIDS IN PRISON PROJECT Catholic Charities of the East Bay MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY Att: News Assignment Editor, Newsroom For Immediate Release: November 6, 1997 For more information contact: Judy Greenspan, (510) 834-5656, ext. 3150 Pager (510) 321-7697 CATHOLIC CHARITIES' HIV/AIDS IN PRISON PROJECT DEMANDS COMPASSIONATE RELEASE FOR CLAUDIA REDDY; CRITICIZES GOVERNOR WILSON'S CLEMENCY TURNDOWN November 6 - The HIV/AIDS in Prison Project of Catholic Charities of the East Bay today criticized Governor Wilson's decision to deny immediate release to Claudia Reddy, a woman prisoner on life supports who is dying of cancer at the Madera Community Hospital in the central valley. In a letter sent today to the Governor and the Board of Prison Terms, the Prison Project demanded that Claudia Reddy be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Board of Prison Terms, November 12, and granted compassionate release. "Governor Wilson's decision to deny Claudia Reddy clemency was unnecessary and mean-spirited," said Judy Greenspan, Director of the Prison Project. "We are asking the Governor now to follow the tenets of the bill that he signed into law on October 8, the compassionate release bill for terminally ill prisoners," said Greenspan. "We demand that Governor Wilson grant Claudia immediate compassionate release. Not to do so, is to make a mockery of Assembly Bill 29," she added. Assembly Bill 29, authored by Assembly Majority Leader Antonio Villaraigosa, (D-Los Angeles), and sponsored by Catholic Charities' Prison Project sets strict criteria for the release of terminally ill prisoners. "Claudia has already served 15 years in prison on a second degree murder term. She has only days to live, perhaps even hours as she can no longer breathe on her own. Surely, you can find enough compassion to order the Board of Prison Terms to release her at their next scheduled meeting which is scheduled for November 12," the Prison Project Director wrote in a letter today to Governor Wilson. "Not to do so, would be to show a complete disregard for the compassionate release process, as well as a disregard for the continued waste of tens of thousands of dollars of hard-earned taxpayers' money," Greenspan said. According to the Prison Project, while Claudia Reddy remains in state custody at Madera Hospital, it costs taxpayers not only contract hospital costs of approximately $5,000 per day but also costly overtime wages for correctional officers who are guarding the nearly comatose prisoner. According to Greenspan, family members and Reddy have one final wish - for Reddy to die outside of custody. "We want the guard removed from the door and Claudia released from state custody," Greenspan wrote today. "This would be a small heroic act for a governor who purportedly supports compassionate release and also wants to save taxpayers money," Resources: 1) For information about the statewide campaign for the compassionate release of dying prisoners, contact Judy Greenspan (above numbers). 2) For information about Claudia Reddy's clemency effort, contact Attorney Susan Stokes (612) 871-8910. 3) For information about Claudia Reddy's compassionate release hearings, contact Denise Meyer, (213) 740-2525. HIV/AIDS IN PRISON PROJECT Catholic Charities of the East Bay November 6, 1997 Honorable Pete Wilson, Governor State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 Re: Compassionate Release of Claudia Reddy Dear Governor Wilson: I am both outraged and perplexed over your issuance of a four page legal decision concerning your clemency denial for Claudia Reddy. Clemency is not the only avenue for relief in this case. I am requesting that you take whatever steps are necessary to place Ms. Reddy on the agenda for the upcoming Board of Prison Terms meeting on November 12 and that you support her (and her family's effort) for compassionate release. We are asking you now to follow the tenets of the bill that you signed into law on October 8. That bill stated that prisoners with less than six months to live who are clearly no longer a danger to society be eligible for the granting of compassionate release. Two days ago, California Department of Corrections' Director Cal Terhune approved Ms. Reddy's release. Now, the decision rests with the Board of Prison Terms and your office. I know that the Board will not make a move without your approval. Therefore, by copy of this letter, I am requesting that the Board of Prison Terms deviate from their rules and allow Ms. Reddy's case to be placed on the agenda of its November 12 meeting. This is an extraordinary request but on within your authority to approve. Surely you can find enough compassion to order the Board of Prison Terms to release her at their upcoming meeting. Not to do so, would be to show a complete disregard for the compassionate release process, as well as a disregard for the continued waste of tens of thousands of dollars of hard-earned taxpayer money. While I appreciate your decision to grant liberal visitation privileges, we are asking for the release of Ms. Reddy from state custody. This would be a small heroic act for a governor who purportedly supports compassionate release and also wants to save taxpayers' money. Sincerely, Judy Greenspan, Project Director cc:Chairman Jim Nielsen, Board of Prison Terms Judy Greenspan HIV/AIDS in Prison Project of Catholic Charities of the East Bay 433 Jefferson Street Oakland, CA 94607 Phone: (510) 834-5656, ext. 3150 Fax: (510) 451-6998 email: judyg@igc.org ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytfem-11.07.97-04:14:26-30922