Tom Vilsack Is Giving Some Convicted Murderers A Break Before He Leaves Office

From the Quad City Times:

Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack moved Wednesday to commute a life prison sentence handed down in a 1982 Scott County murder case.

Vilsack reduced Michael Laverne Marit’s life sentence to 125 years, making him eligible for parole in seven years. Vilsack, in a letter to the Board of Parole, argues that Marit’s prison record warrants a sentence reduction.

How about this line in the story: Vilsack reduced Michael Laverne Marit’s life sentence to 125 years, making him eligible for parole in seven years.

Doesn't that sentence just sum up all that's wrong with the criminal justice system?

There's more:

Vilsack took into account that Marit has been married for nine years, has a strong family and community support system and adjusted well to medium-security custody, according to the statement.

Right. If he's adjusted so well to medium-security custody, why not leave him there?

He's married?



Dixie Shanahan (now Dixie Duty), after her first husband beat her up

You know, Dixie Shanahan was once married. Her husband beat the shit out her for years. She filed reports, but later took them back. Then, one day, Dixie announced to her husband that she was pregnant with another child. Her husband was angry, beat her up, beat her stomach, dragged her around by the hair, pointed a loaded shotgun at her, and was going to force her to have an abortion. Eventually, Dixie Shanahan shot her husband in the head and left his body to rot in a bedroom for a year. Most normal people would say that Dixie Shanahan probably had some mental problems as a result of being in an abusive relationship. Shanahan rejected a deal and was tried, convicted, sentenced to 50 years in prison and wouldn't be eligible for parole until 2039.

When Shanahan applied for early release, the bitches on the Iowa Parole Board gave her a bunch of shit.

Same thing with Tracey Dyess, who was sexually abused for most of her childhood and who later, while still a minor, set a fire in her house that accidentally killed two siblings. Her sentence was a travesty. You should also read Rekha Basu's fairly recent column on the Dyess case, which is one of the rare instances I agree with her.

If Tom Vilsack leaves office without commuting the sentences of Dixie Shanahan and Tracey Dyess, it will be a significant injustice to women, particular those who have suffered from spousal abuse and childhood sexual abuse.