PUBLIC HAS A SAY IN PAROLE HEARINGS

Thanks to a state law, notification must be given when Missourians convicted of certain crimes such as murder are up for parole. As a result, people whose lives have been directly affected by the crime have an opportunity to tell the parole board why the convict shouldn't -- or should -- be paroled.

This is the case in which a Benton woman, Jayme Martindale Kolwyck, is seeking support for her efforts to prevent the parole of Stacy Martindale, who was convicted of killing her husband, Mrs. Kolwyck's brother.

Giving the public an opportunity to participate in this process has provided, time after time, valuable information to the parole board. This has been particularly helpful in cases when sentencing occurred before increases in the mandatory time to be served. More and more convicts are being required to spend more time in prison, which is what the public generally expects when people are found guilty of serious crimes.