I have a female pal in Chowchilla who is considered a lifer and is up for parole again. I've been trying to get women interested in domestic violence to write letters of public support.

I heard that Diane Downs is in there. Does anyone know if it's true?

The only person that my friend has mentioned who is in there with her is someone who was in the Patty Hearst case.

Would like to hear from you if write to a lady in Chowchilla so we can compare notes on what you hear about how they are treated, any mail problems, etc.

I wrote a lady in there once or twice, her name is Kristy Camp. She has a life sentence too I believe, and came up for parole last year (after 13 years or so), which was denied :(
Abelle

I wrote a lady in there once or twice, her name is Kristy Camp. She has a life sentence too I believe, and came up for parole last year (after 13 years or so), which was denied :(
AbelleHmmmm....interesting. I've never heard of her. Didn't she have another parole hearing after that one? Andrea Mims, my friend, seems to have them once a year now.

I think Andrea said there are 4 female lifers there.

http://www.freebatteredwomen.org/freechristycamp.htm

Governor Schwarzenegger reverses parole for Christy Camp!

On May 26th, 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger reversed the Board of Prison Terms' decision to release Christy Camp on parole. We do not have specific details yet as to the reasons the Governor gave for reversing the Board's decision.

We do know that the Governor did so despite receiving over 1,000 letters and faxes urging him to release Christy (thanks in large part to the efforts of FBW Steering Committee member Gloria Killian, Executive Director of the Action Committee for Women in Prison).

It's outrageous that the Governor's office could receive such an abundant expression of community support for Christy's release, yet fail to heed our message!

We will continue the struggle for her freedom and for the release of the many other incarcerated survivors who remain in prison.

OMG, what a shocker! That does not look good for Andrea, then!! Thanks SO MUCH for posting it. Andrea is on that battered women site, too.

http://www.freebatteredwomen.org/freechristycamp.htm

Governor Schwarzenegger reverses parole for Christy Camp!

On May 26th, 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger reversed the Board of Prison Terms' decision to release Christy Camp on parole.

Good luck for you and Andrea! If you wish I will write a letter too, even if it seems 'hopeless'. Maybe Arnie will have a change of heart, never give up hope! If he keeps running against the Parole Board, something is wrong and it will be noticed somehow, I would think.
Abelle

Good luck for you and Andrea! If you wish I will write a letter too, even if it seems 'hopeless'. Maybe Arnie will have a change of heart, never give up hope! If he keeps running against the Parole Board, something is wrong and it will be noticed somehow, I would think.
AbelleThanks. Doesn't it seem like we should be able to get thru to Maria Shriver, his wife, on this subject? Where do we start? It's time Christy Camp and Andrea Mims get paroled!! I live a few hours from Sacramento. Would anyone like to do a little protesting in front of the capitol building there? I have a guest room/bath up here in Reno.
Kaly

It did not help that my mother's name is Schriver too (Schrijver), but I saw on that battered women website that another lady WAS paropled beginning of this year (C. Anderson). Also, they have suggestions on it for writing letters and other activities.
As I live a continent and an ocean away, I cannot come to a protest right away, but it seems to me a good idea. Maybe the prison activism forum has more ideas, and this website I mentioned above they should be involved too for numbers.
Abelle

http://www.freebatteredwomen.org/CarolineAndersonIsFree.htm

Caroline Anderson is Free!

As of January 14th, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger has "declined to review" the Board of Prison Terms' decision to grant parole to Caroline Anderson -- meaning that the Board's decision stands and Caroline will be united with her loving family!

Many thanks to all who sent letters of support, faxes, and postcards to Governor Schwarzenegger's office in support of Caroline's freedom. Kudos to her attorney, Daphne Bishop of Pillsbury Winthrop LLP, to her family for their loving devotion and advocacy, and to the many other supporters throughout the state who fought for Caroline's freedom.

About Caroline:

Caroline Anderson is a survivor of domestic violence who has been in prison for 22 years for her alleged role in her abusive husband's death. Her husband was killed by someone else who implicated her in the crime.

The investigation by the parole board into her history of abuse states that she "did not plan or commit the crime" and that this was a "trumped case to begin with...a travesty of justice."

This was the second time that the Board of Prison Terms had granted Caroline parole. Now 61 years old, Caroline is a great-grandmother and has a loving family ready to welcome her home. (Read Caroline's testimony in the "Survivors Speak" section.)

Caroline was among the 34 survivors whom Free Battered Women assisted with filing a clemency petition back in 1992, but then-Governor Wilson never responded to it

Another example on this site:
(it seems one has to be incarcerated for more than 20 years and 4x parole board!)

Jeannette Crawford is FREE!

Jeannette Crawford was released from prison on parole on Monday, May 24th, 2004, after serving 22 years in prison!

Free Battered Women rejoices in Ms. Crawford's freedom and her reunion with her family members.

Ms. Crawford was released after Governor Schwarzenegger chose not to review the Board of Prison Term's decision to grant her parole. This means that the Board's decision stands.

This was the fourth time that the Board had found Ms. Crawford suitable for parole.

Free Battered Women extends our congratulations to Ms. Crawford's attorneys at the USC Post Conviction Justice Project (our partners in the California Habeas project)

Andrea Mims has been incarcerated 22 years and I think this is her 4th or 5th time before the board.

I was reading that site while you were posting from it! ;) There were two women vetoed: Karen Narita, and Linda Lee Smith.

So, he freed two women and sent two back. It's worth protesting. And oh, I have a motorhome we can drive there in comfort! I wrote to the freebatteredwomen.org people and hope to hear from them.

Great, Kalypso!! I will be in WA State end of August but it is a) a long time and b) still far from CA and c) I have to visit my friend there :)
I always wonder what makes him decide to let them be paroled or what makes him decide they have to stay inside? I can't imagine : 22 years? in my country she would have been free at least 7 or 8 years.
Abelle

ps maybe the 'parole' forum has any ideas too?

I wrote a lady in there once or twice, her name is Kristy Camp. She has a life sentence too I believe, and came up for parole last year (after 13 years or so), which was denied :(
Abelle
I just saw Kristy Camps story on tv. Is there any way i can write or email her?

OMG, what a shocker! That does not look good for Andrea, then!! Thanks SO MUCH for posting it. Andrea is on that battered women site, too.
I just saw Kristy Camps story on tv. Is there any way i can write or email her?

I have met Christy Camp at VSPW, I see her often in visiting. I talked to her two or three weeks ago while warming up lunch at the microwave. My fiancee is friendly with her.

Hi all, I write to Suzy Mellen who is in Chowchilla and also have been getting documents for some of the ladies in there. I am a paralegal here in the UK.

F.Y.I., Christy Camp did finally get out.