Gloria Allred helps draft Nevada legislation inspired by OJ Simpson's parole hearing
CARSON CITY, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Just days before O.J. Simpson is eligible to be released from prison on October 1, Washoe County Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner has introduced a bill inspired by Simpson's parole hearing.
Krasner worked with high-profile civil rights attorney Gloria Allred to draft the bill that would force the Nevada Parole Board to consider past domestic violence convictions when deciding if an inmate should be granted parole.
Krasner said, "Unfortunately, Nevada consistently ranks as one of the worst states in the nation for domestic violence."
The assemblywoman said the goal of the bill proposed at the Nevada legislature this week is to try to reduce repeat domestic violence offenders. "This comes up now because O.J. Simpson is scheduled to be released from prison on October 1."
Gloria Allred also spoke at a press conference on Tuesday morning. She said she was motivated to help draft the bill after watching Simpson's nationally-televised parole hearing.
Allred believes it's possible the outcome of that hearing may have been different if the parole board considered Simpson's past convictions. "In 1989, Mr. Simpson was convicted of misdemeanor battery of his wife, Nicole."
If passed, the new bill would make the parole board take into account an inmate's history of domestic violence or wrongful death convictions. Allred said Simpson "was found to have maliciously killed two people with a deadly weapon."
The legislation would also make inmates sign a statement under oath, to tell the truth at their parole hearings.
Allred said, "He did not answer the board's questions under oath and under penalty of perjury. Mr, Simpson was, therefore, able to lie with impunity to the parole board."
By the time the bill is heard before the legislature, Simpson will likely be out of prison, but Allred and Krasner are hoping the law applies to future inmates in Nevada.
Lisa Krasner said, "a person who commits an act of domestic violence upon another person must be held accountable for their actions by legal consequences. Victims deserve justice."
An official with the Nevada Department of Corrections said they are not releasing any details about when or where Simpson will be released. She said it probably won't be on October 1 and that it could be days or even weeks longer before Simpson is a free man again.
