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Compassionate release

Compassionate release is a process by which inmates in criminal justice systems may be eligible for immediate early release on grounds of "particularly extraordinary or compelling circumstances which could not reasonably have been foreseen by the court at the time of sentencing".[1] Compassionate release procedures, which are also known as medical release, medical parole, medical furlough, and humanitarian parole, can be mandated by the courts or by internal corrections authorities. Unlike regular parole, compassionate release is not based on a prisoner's behaviour or sentencing, but rather on medical or humanitarian changes in the prisoner's situation.

Request process edit

Obtaining a compassionate release for a prison inmate is a process that varies from country to country (and sometimes even within countries) but generally involves petitioning the warden or court to the effect that the subject is terminally ill and would benefit from obtaining aid outside of the prison system, or is otherwise eligible under the relevant law.

Compassionate release is most often granted to inmates with terminal illnesses that cause life expectancies of less than six or eighteen months, depending on the jurisdiction.[2][3][4] Other allowable causes for compassionate release may be medical but non-terminal, such as incurable debilitating mental or physical conditions that prevent inmate self-care or a combination of advanced age and irreversible age-related conditions that prevent functioning in a prison setting. Prisoners with illnesses such as Alzheimer's would be considered eligible for release.

Grounds for compassionate release may also be familial, although not all jurisdictions offer this option. Under the United States' Federal law, for example, inmates may be released to care for a minor child or debilitated spouse in the absence of other family caregivers. This is intended to be after the death or debilitation of the child's primary caregiver in the former case or the finding of permanent mental or physical disability of the spouse in the latter. While there are clear advantages to the individual in this type of release, there are many procedural obstacles to this type of petition which lead to it rarely being granted.

Arguments edit

Support edit

Arguments for the expansion of compassionate release programs generally address the benefit to terminally ill prisoners as well as cost savings to the state. Terminal illness which requires special care or treatment is a major concern for prison inmates who may be unable to access the same type or quality of care in prison as they would outside of an institutional setting. These illnesses can further shorten the lifespan of the individual while he or she is in prison, a setting that already has poorer health outcomes and a lower life expectancy than the general population.[5] The Bureau of Prisons estimates that the United States would save $5.8 million per year by releasing 100 people on compassionate release per year,[6][7] and overcrowding would be lessened. Those who are approved for compassionate release have a lower tendency to recommit crime,[8] which is attributed to those being released being in extremely poor health, and possibly due to the careful screening process inmates go through for risk of recidivism before approval for compassionate release can be granted.

Criticism edit

Compassionate release relies on good faith, requiring that the released inmates do not continue committing crimes after they have been released; while many of these criminals are in very poor health, some are not incapacitated, and their reintroduction into society puts them back into a setting where they would be free to commit crimes. A questionnaire study by Jennifer Boothby and Lorraine Overduin on attitudes towards compassionate release suggested that the general public has negative attitudes towards the compassionate release of prisoners, based on responses from 163 undergraduate students in an introductory psychology course.[9] This suggests that negative attitudes toward compassionately released prisoners, and attitudes towards prisoners themselves, could be an obstacle to those seeking an expansion of this type of resentencing and that there is a negative attitude in midwestern university undergraduates over mingling with those convicted of crimes meriting time potentially up to life sentences. Another argument against compassionate release is fairness and concern over justice for time served; for those that were placed in prison justifiably, the question arises of how long they should be forced to serve for their crimes before they are allowed renewed access to their community for health and support, and state and federal laws generally stipulate guidelines that address minimum proportions of sentences that must be served before eligibility for compassionate release.

The process of obtaining compassionate release on medical grounds has been criticized in multiple states for being highly subjective on a case-by-case basis, relying heavily on specific doctors' opinions and for not having sufficiently clear-cut guidelines as to what defines a patient as being eligible for compassionate release.[10] This often results in calls for reform, fueled by statistics regarding the rate of compassionate release and the illnesses of the patients who do not receive it.[11]

Implementation edit

A major roadblock to the implementation of compassionate release is its reliance on medical trials. Due to the fact that the criteria for medically based petitions for compassionate release are, by necessity, dependent on medicine and doctors, individual medical professionals have an inordinate amount of power in determining each compassionate release case.[11] Because of the high degree of variation among individual medical professionals, the high variation that is translated into each decision is a major issue in many of the current compassionate release systems. The inconsistency of current systems of compassionate release is a common flaw that hinders increased use of compassionate release.

Other options edit

For prisoners suffering from terminal illnesses, alternative options include programs that distribute health materials and segregation of affected individuals[12] and expanded hospice programs. Hospice programs within the prisons have been used, although this does not address the humanitarian aspect of allowing inmates to die with dignity among family and friends, and the issue of cost to the state is still prevalent. Specialized medical care in a prison setting is difficult to achieve and is a costly proposition. With the prison population aging and in poorer health than the general population, as previously mentioned, cost may become a prohibitive factor, increasing the attraction of compassionate release where possible.

For non-medical cases such as care for a family member in the absence of other available parties, practical alternatives are difficult to identify. A minor child or disabled spouse for whom no other caregiver is available is likely to end up as a ward of the courts or in institutional care if the compassionate release request is not granted.

As of 2009, corrections systems with compassionate release procedures included the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons (often known as the BOP),[13] Scotland, England and Wales, China, France, New Zealand and 36 of the 50 U.S. state prison systems.[14]

Legislation on compassionate release by country edit

New Zealand edit

New Zealand legislation includes a provision for prisoners to apply for compassionate release from prison. Section 41 of the Parole Act 2002 provides that the Parole board may, on referral by the chairperson, direct that an offender be released on compassionate release on either of the following grounds: (a) the offender has given birth to a child or (b) the offender is seriously ill and is unlikely to recover.[15] The Department of Corrections is not responsible for decisions regarding compassionate release of prisoners. When a prisoner is seriously ill and unlikely to recover, an application will be made to the New Zealand Parole Board where an independent decision will be made.[16] All prisoners in New Zealand are eligible for compassionate release. The length of a sentence or eligibility for parole are not factors that will affect the prisoner's ability to apply for compassionate release.[17]

In November 2016, a high-profile prisoner, Vicki Ravana Letele was granted compassionate release from prison. Letele was sentenced to three years and two months for ten charges of dishonestly using a document. The application for compassionate release was based on Letele's diagnosis of metastatic cancer. Her illness was terminal with a life expectancy of 6 months. The chairman of the Parole Board, Hon J W Gendall initially declined Letele's release on compassionate grounds, citing: "It is quite often the case that prisoners contract or are diagnosed with serious illness but if they can be adequately treated and managed in prison and death is not imminent that compassionate release is not appropriate. It is not the case that family and others may reasonably believe that the prisoner should be in the care of his/her family at such difficult times."[18]

The serving Prime Minister of New Zealand in 2016, Sir John Key, voiced his opinion on the Letele case following widespread public outcry and protest. Key stated: "I would have thought we were a pretty compassionate country. We do need to take on board the criminal activity that the person’s undertaken but I don’t think we want to see people dying in prison if, on compassionate grounds, it’s reasonable they be returned home."[19] Initial conflicting views between the Ministry of Justice and the Parole Board were resolved on 10 November 2016, when the Parole Board under Section 41 of the Parole Act 2002 ordered the compassionate release of Letele. The decision factored in that there was no offending history, the prison security classification was low and Letele was seriously ill and unlikely to recover.[20]

Between the years of 2015 and 2016, seven prisoners were released on compassionate grounds, all cases determined on the basis that they were seriously ill and unlikely to recover. Figures from the years 2006 – 2013 revealed a total of twenty-five applications, with three of those declined.[21] The application process for compassionate release can be difficult to achieve on time, which is one of the reasons that very few applications are received.[22] Other reasons include the likelihood of a prisoner dying in prison before an application is approved, and an absence of reasonable and available support from family if a prisoner is released from prison. Furthermore, long-stay prisoners may not wish to be released; the prison may be regarded as home and fellow inmates as family.[22]

Human rights approach

In practice, the Parole Board only releases prisoners on compassionate release if they are seriously ill and unlikely to recover. However, the Act also provides for compassionate release of a prisoner when they have given birth to a child.[23] Prison management first assesses the prisoner's suitability, taking into account security classification, the welfare of the prisoner and the child, and the views of the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki (formerly Child Youth and Family). A report is then submitted to the Parole Board.[24] However, the establishment of mother and baby units in prisons has made this provision practically void. The reason as for why it has not been removed from the Act is that it would violate New Zealand's International Human Rights obligations and be in contravention of Section 19 of the Bill of Rights Act; Freedom from Discrimination,[25] if it were not available.[26] Comparatively, compassionate release is based on underlying principles of human dignity. Dignity in this sense refers to the right of a human being to have inherent equal and inalienable rights to achieve social progress and better standards of living. Preventing the release of seriously ill prisoners would undeniably violate their human dignity.[27]

The 2004 review of Human Rights in New Zealand stated that the vulnerability of people in detention was one of New Zealand's most pressing human rights issues.[28] The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC)[29] and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) [30] is the relevant conventions concerning compassionate release. In practice, the Department of Corrections supports a child's contact with parents who are in prison when it is in the best interests of the child. Prisoners are encouraged to have positive relationships with their children so they can better reintegrate on release.[31] These principles uphold New Zealand's obligations under Article 9 of UNCROC: Separation from Parents, and includes several programs including ‘Mothers with Babies Units’, ‘Mothers and Bonding Facilities’ and importantly, ‘Prison Activities Centres’ that teach fathers parenting skills.[31]

Similarly, under New Zealand's obligations in Article 12 of CEDAW [32] improvements were made in women's correctional facilities to include ‘Mothers with Babies Units’ allowing mothers to keep their children with them in prison up until the age of two, where it was previously 9 months. The aim of this is to achieve a reduction in re-offending for women and increase their children's life chances.[33] Compassionate release must be available to prisoners following the birth of a child to meet the obligations that are specified in these conventions.[26] In practice, the incorporation of units that enable a relationship between a mother and child in prison is consistent with the obligations that New Zealand has in the context of international human rights. This explains the apparent non-existence of compassionate release on the ground that a prisoner has given birth.[33]

United Kingdom edit

England and Wales edit

Applications for early release on compassionate grounds are allowed in England and Wales for prisoners serving determinate or indeterminate sentences.[34] Three general principles are applied during the decision-making process: the safety of the public, new information not available to the court, and whether there was a specific purpose for the early release.[35]

Prisoners serving determinate sentences are also eligible for compassionate release based on tragic family circumstances. Prisoners serving indeterminate sentences are excluded from this provision and are subject to further restricting criteria in an application for compassionate release based on terminal illness.[34] They will be assessed on the risk of re-offending, particularly of a sexual or violent nature, whether further imprisonment would reduce their life expectancy, whether adequate arrangements are available outside prison, and whether early release will provide some significant benefit to their family. Where conditions are self-induced, such as a hunger strike or refusal of treatment, an application may be declined.[34]

The aging prison population edit

The rates of death from natural causes in prison doubled from 2008 to 2017, with 199 occurring in the year to March 2017.[36] The age of the prison population is rising due to a shift in major sentencing trends; prison terms are increasingly longer for the older population.[36] The Prison Reform Trust called for a review of the current compassionate release process, commenting on the difficulty that a medical professional will have diagnosing a three-month life expectancy. The Trust recommended that a one-year life expectancy be sufficient for an application for compassionate release from prison.[37] The former Deputy Director of the Trust observed that older prisoners who are terminally ill are unlikely to pose a risk to the public. He believed that a range of options should be considered, including compassionate release to ensure that people spend their last days with dignity.[38]

High-profile cases such as the release of Reggie Kray in 2000 and Ronnie Briggs in 2009 raised issues regarding the term "compassionate release".[39] The idea that compassion should be exercised with prisoners was a concept that did not reconcile with popular societal views.[38] Costs associated with medical care for the elderly and terminally ill was noted, with acceptance of the costs that are incurred by sending prison guards to hospital and providing palliative care within the prison environment. However, early release is largely deemed to be socially incompatible.[38]

Human rights of older persons edit

Compassionate release is founded on a humanitarian concern for the dying, and practical reasons such as high costs or the inability to care adequately for such persons in prison.[40] Prison is generally deemed unsuitable for compassionate end-of-life care due to its punitive purpose.[41] End-of-life care exists in prisons in England and Wales, but the adequacy of the care has been challenged, as the opposing goals of security and compassionate care are said to be mutually exclusive.[40] In May 2016, the Council of Europe European Committee on Crime Problems issued a white paper on prison overcrowding. The paper addressed the root causes of prison overcrowding and supports the wide application for early release for seriously ill and aged prisoners on compassionate grounds.[42]

A 2011 report to the UN Secretary-General highlighted the difficulties with the aging population, particularly regarding the long-term care of the elderly. This is made worse by the lack of legal framework to monitor human rights violations in long-term care facilities.[43] Dying and suffering are not part of a prisoner's punishment.[44] Human rights recommendations for aging prisoners advocate that necessary changes should be made to adapt to the older prisoner's physical and mental health. If changes cannot be adequately implemented, then compassionate release of the prisoner should be considered in order not to violate Article 3 (on inhumane and degrading treatment) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Scotland edit

The Scottish legal system permits compassionate release for terminal illnesses. There are only a few applications per year, and most are granted. A prominent case was that of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, released on 20 August 2009 because of prostate cancer.[45]

United States edit

In the United States, forms of compassionate release are found both federally and in the laws of thirty-nine states. With the rapid increase in prison populations following the introduction of mandatory minimum sentencing laws in the 1990s, many people have called for the expanded use of compassionate release as a "safety valve" to relieve overcrowded prison systems and reduce pressure on government budgets as well as to ease the suffering of inmates and their families.[46][47][48][49] Some states have recently expanded their forms of compassionate release, as can be seen in New York's changes to its medical parole laws to include both the terminally ill and chronically ill inmates in the absence of a prognosis of imminent death, although this has not necessarily resulted in more releases.

Many who are eligible for compassionate release on grounds of terminal illness and who have applications pending die in prison before their cases are processed due to case backlogs and narrow interpretation of the law.[10] The issue of where and how to best deliver end-of-life care has been compounded by the sheer number of prisoners now incarcerated in the United States, as well as by the aging of the prison population.[47][49][10][3][8]

Federal laws governing compassionate release include 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), which came into effect on 1 November 1987 and governs those whose offences occurred since it was enacted, and 18 U.S.C. § 4205(g), the previous version, which still controls the release of inmates who were convicted of offences that occurred on or before that date.[2] States that offer compassionate release each have their laws governing eligibility, and it may differ from the federal versions both in the requirements for eligibility and in the type of release that can be granted, for example, medical parole rather than resentencing.

To seek compassionate release, federal inmates must file a petition with the warden. Compassionate release is only granted "when there are particularly extraordinary or compelling circumstances which could not reasonably have been foreseen by the court at the time of sentencing".[50]

U.S. cases edit

In 2013, Herman Wallace was released from Angola Prison to spend the rest of his remaining life in a personal care home. A few days later, he passed away.

Lynne Stewart, a criminal defence attorney was convicted of passing messages from imprisoned terrorist Omar Abdel-Rahman (the "Blind Sheikh") to his followers in al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya. Judge John Koeltl sentenced Stewart to ten years in prison, but on December 31, 2013, Koeltl ordered Stewart released from federal prison due to her terminal breast cancer. Koeltl cited the incurable nature of Stewart's disease and the "relatively limited risk" of recidivism and danger to the community upon release. At 74 years old, she was released from the Federal Medical Center Carswell in Texas where she had served over four years of her sentence.[51][52] Stewart died in March 2017.[53]

Variation among states edit

Different states have various policies on the compassionate release system, varying on details such as the life expectancy required to warrant compassionate release.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ (PDF). United States Federal Bureau of Prisons. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b (PDF). US Board of Prisons. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b Beck, John A. (Fall 1999). "Compassionate Release from New York State Prisons". Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. 27 (3): 216–233. doi:10.1111/j.1748-720x.1999.tb01455.x. PMID 11067598. S2CID 744237.
  4. ^ "California Penal Code Section 1170".
  5. ^ Spaulding, Anne C.; el al (2011). "Prisoner Survival Inside and Outside of the Institution". American Journal of Epidemiology. 173 (5): 479–487. doi:10.1093/aje/kwq422. PMC 3044840. PMID 21239522.
  6. ^ a b The Lancet (2013). "Compassionate release in the USA". The Lancet. 381 (9878): 1598. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(13)61007-7. PMID 23663936. S2CID 39959698.
  7. ^ "The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Compassionate Release Program."
  8. ^ a b O'Meara, Gregory. "Compassion and the Public Interest: Wisconsin's New Compassionate Release Legislation." Federal Sentencing Reporter 23.1 (2010): 33-38. Print.
  9. ^ Boothby, Jennifer L.; Overduin, Lorraine Y. (December 2007). "Attitudes Regarding the Compassionate Release of Terminally Ill Offenders". The Prison Journal. 87 (4): 408–415. doi:10.1177/0032885507306518. ISSN 0032-8855. S2CID 145301614.
  10. ^ a b c Berry III, William W. (2009). "Extraordinary and Compelling: A Re-examination of the Justifications for Compassionate Release". Maryland Law Review. 2009. 68.
  11. ^ a b Williams, Brie A.; Greifinger, Robert; Morrison, R. Sean (2011). "Balancing Punishment and Compassion for Seriously Ill Prisoners". Annals of Internal Medicine. 155 (2): 122–126. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-155-2-201107190-00348. PMC 3163454. PMID 21628351.
  12. ^ Aldenberg, William B. "Bursting at the Seams: An Analysis of Compassionate-Release Statutes and the Current Problem of HIV and AIDS in U.S. Prisons and Jails." New England journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement 24.2 (1998): 541-98. Print.
  13. ^ "BOP: Press Release - Organ Transplants". Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  14. ^ "36 states release ill or dying inmates - USATODAY.com". usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Parole Act 2002 No 10 (as at 15 May 2017), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation". legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  16. ^ "Compassionate Release" (17 May 2017) (Obtained under Official Information Act 1982 Request to the Department of Corrections)
  17. ^ (18 February 2009) 652 NZPD 1420
  18. ^ "Zealand Parole Board Decision "Vicki Ravana Letele" (27 October 2016, Wellington)". Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  19. ^ phil.taylor@nzherald.co.nz @PhilHTaylor, Phil Taylor Senior writer, Weekend Herald and New Zealand Herald (10 November 2016). "Dying prisoner Vicki Letele arrives home to emotional welcome". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 December 2018 – via www.nzherald.co.nz.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "New Zealand Parole Board Decision "Vicki Ravana Letele" (10 November 2016)". Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  21. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  22. ^ a b Lum, Kerryn L. (January 2004). "Palliative Care Behind Bars: The New Zealand Prison Hospice Experience". Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy. 17 (3–4): 131–138. doi:10.1080/J354v17n03_19. ISSN 1536-0288. S2CID 37048890.
  23. ^ "Parole Act 2002 No 10 (as at 15 May 2017), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation". legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  24. ^ Libby Robins "Mother and baby prison units: An investigative study" (paper presented to Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Christchurch, May 2012)
  25. ^ New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 s19
  26. ^ a b Sandra Goudie "Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill – Initial Briefing" (29 April 2009) at [18]
  27. ^ "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on 7 June 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  28. ^ Human Rights in New Zealand "Rights of people who are detained" (2010) at [351]
  29. ^ Convention on the Rights of the Child 1577 UNTS (opened for signature 20 November 1989, entered into force 2 September 1990)[1]
  30. ^ "Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 1249 UNTS (opened for signature 18 December 1979, entered into force September 3 1981)"
  31. ^ a b Ministry of Social Development United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Fifth Periodic Report by the Government of New Zealand (2015)
  32. ^ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 1249 UNTS (opened for signature 18 December 1979, entered into force 3 September 1981)
  33. ^ a b Ministry of Social Development United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women: Eighth Periodic Report by the Government of New Zealand (2016)
  34. ^ a b c HM Prison Service Prison Service Order 6000 Parole, Release and Recall (31 March 2005) at [12]
  35. ^ Gabrielle Garton Brimwood and Pat Strickland, "Early release from prison in England and Wales: an overview" (Home Affairs Section, 15 May 2013) at [6]
  36. ^ a b "Prison: the facts" (PDF). Bromley Briefings. Prison Reform Trust. Summer 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  37. ^ "Doing time: the experiences and needs of older people in prison" (PDF). Prison Reform Trust. 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  38. ^ a b c Tamsin Snow, "Should dying prisoners be given their freedom for a more dignified end?" (2009) 23 Health and Medical Collection 12 at 13
  39. ^ Tamsin Snow, "Should dying prisoners be given their freedom for a more dignified end?" (2009) 23 Health and Medical Collection 12 at 12
  40. ^ a b Wiebke Bretschneider et al "The collision of care and punishment: Ageing prisoners’ view on compassionate release" (2017) 19 Punishment and Society 5 at 11
  41. ^ N. B. Mahon, "Introduction: Death and dying behind bars – Cross-cutting themes and policy imperatives" (1999) 27 Journal of Law and Medicine Ethics 213 at 215
  42. ^ European Committee on Crime Problems White Paper on Prison Overcrowding (Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, June 2016)
  43. ^ Officer of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Human Rights of Older Persons (Summary of the Report to the Secretary-General to the General Assembly, 2011)
  44. ^ N. N. Dubler, "The collision of confinement and care: End-of-life care in prisons and jails", (1998) 26 The Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics 149 at 156
  45. ^ . Yahoo! News. Associated Press. 24 August 2009. Archived from the original on 28 August 2009. Compassionate release is a regular feature of the Scottish system when a prisoner is near death. Of the 31 applications over the last decade, 24 prisoners have been freed on compassionate grounds in Scotland, including Megrahi. Another seven applications were turned down because the medical evidence did not support the claim.
  46. ^ Buckley, Cara (29 January 2010). "For Inmates in New York, Hurdles to Compassionate Release". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  47. ^ a b Dubler, Nancy (1998). "The Collision of Confinement and Care". The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. 26 (2): 149–156. doi:10.1111/j.1748-720X.1998.tb01670.x. PMID 11657351. S2CID 45569390.
  48. ^ Murphy, Nicole M. (Summer 2012). "Dying to be Free". Marquette Law Review. 95 (4): 1679–1741. Retrieved 2 May 2014.[permanent dead link]
  49. ^ a b Williams, Brie; et al. (2011). "Balancing Punishment and Compassion for Seriously Ill Prisoners". Annals of Internal Medicine. 155 (2): 122–W44. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-155-2-201107190-00348. PMC 3163454. PMID 21628351.
  50. ^ Compassionate Release, Procedures For Implementation 18 USC 3582/4205, Hawk, Kathleen M. (19 May 1998). (PDF). U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  51. ^ Ferrigno, Lorenzo (1 January 2014). "Dying defense lawyer Lynne Stewart released from jail". CNN. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  52. ^ "NY judge orders 'compassionate release' of terror lawyer Lynne Stewart". Fox News. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  53. ^ Fried, Joseph P. (7 March 2017). "Lynne Stewart, Lawyer Imprisoned in Terrorism Case, Dies at 77". The New York Times.

External links edit

  • New Zealand Bill of Rights Act
  • HRC Rights of People who are Detained
  • Human Rights and Prisons
  • Prison Reform Trust Older People in Prison

compassionate, release, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, written, like, manual, guide, please, help, rewrite, this, article, remove, advic. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article is written like a manual or guide Please help rewrite this article and remove advice or instruction December 2014 The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the English speaking world and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this article discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new article as appropriate August 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Compassionate release is a process by which inmates in criminal justice systems may be eligible for immediate early release on grounds of particularly extraordinary or compelling circumstances which could not reasonably have been foreseen by the court at the time of sentencing 1 Compassionate release procedures which are also known as medical release medical parole medical furlough and humanitarian parole can be mandated by the courts or by internal corrections authorities Unlike regular parole compassionate release is not based on a prisoner s behaviour or sentencing but rather on medical or humanitarian changes in the prisoner s situation Contents 1 Request process 2 Arguments 2 1 Support 2 2 Criticism 3 Implementation 4 Other options 5 Legislation on compassionate release by country 5 1 New Zealand 5 2 United Kingdom 5 2 1 England and Wales 5 2 1 1 The aging prison population 5 2 1 2 Human rights of older persons 5 2 2 Scotland 5 3 United States 5 3 1 U S cases 5 3 2 Variation among states 6 References 7 External linksRequest process editObtaining a compassionate release for a prison inmate is a process that varies from country to country and sometimes even within countries but generally involves petitioning the warden or court to the effect that the subject is terminally ill and would benefit from obtaining aid outside of the prison system or is otherwise eligible under the relevant law Compassionate release is most often granted to inmates with terminal illnesses that cause life expectancies of less than six or eighteen months depending on the jurisdiction 2 3 4 Other allowable causes for compassionate release may be medical but non terminal such as incurable debilitating mental or physical conditions that prevent inmate self care or a combination of advanced age and irreversible age related conditions that prevent functioning in a prison setting Prisoners with illnesses such as Alzheimer s would be considered eligible for release Grounds for compassionate release may also be familial although not all jurisdictions offer this option Under the United States Federal law for example inmates may be released to care for a minor child or debilitated spouse in the absence of other family caregivers This is intended to be after the death or debilitation of the child s primary caregiver in the former case or the finding of permanent mental or physical disability of the spouse in the latter While there are clear advantages to the individual in this type of release there are many procedural obstacles to this type of petition which lead to it rarely being granted Arguments editSupport edit Arguments for the expansion of compassionate release programs generally address the benefit to terminally ill prisoners as well as cost savings to the state Terminal illness which requires special care or treatment is a major concern for prison inmates who may be unable to access the same type or quality of care in prison as they would outside of an institutional setting These illnesses can further shorten the lifespan of the individual while he or she is in prison a setting that already has poorer health outcomes and a lower life expectancy than the general population 5 The Bureau of Prisons estimates that the United States would save 5 8 million per year by releasing 100 people on compassionate release per year 6 7 and overcrowding would be lessened Those who are approved for compassionate release have a lower tendency to recommit crime 8 which is attributed to those being released being in extremely poor health and possibly due to the careful screening process inmates go through for risk of recidivism before approval for compassionate release can be granted Criticism edit Compassionate release relies on good faith requiring that the released inmates do not continue committing crimes after they have been released while many of these criminals are in very poor health some are not incapacitated and their reintroduction into society puts them back into a setting where they would be free to commit crimes A questionnaire study by Jennifer Boothby and Lorraine Overduin on attitudes towards compassionate release suggested that the general public has negative attitudes towards the compassionate release of prisoners based on responses from 163 undergraduate students in an introductory psychology course 9 This suggests that negative attitudes toward compassionately released prisoners and attitudes towards prisoners themselves could be an obstacle to those seeking an expansion of this type of resentencing and that there is a negative attitude in midwestern university undergraduates over mingling with those convicted of crimes meriting time potentially up to life sentences Another argument against compassionate release is fairness and concern over justice for time served for those that were placed in prison justifiably the question arises of how long they should be forced to serve for their crimes before they are allowed renewed access to their community for health and support and state and federal laws generally stipulate guidelines that address minimum proportions of sentences that must be served before eligibility for compassionate release The process of obtaining compassionate release on medical grounds has been criticized in multiple states for being highly subjective on a case by case basis relying heavily on specific doctors opinions and for not having sufficiently clear cut guidelines as to what defines a patient as being eligible for compassionate release 10 This often results in calls for reform fueled by statistics regarding the rate of compassionate release and the illnesses of the patients who do not receive it 11 Implementation editA major roadblock to the implementation of compassionate release is its reliance on medical trials Due to the fact that the criteria for medically based petitions for compassionate release are by necessity dependent on medicine and doctors individual medical professionals have an inordinate amount of power in determining each compassionate release case 11 Because of the high degree of variation among individual medical professionals the high variation that is translated into each decision is a major issue in many of the current compassionate release systems The inconsistency of current systems of compassionate release is a common flaw that hinders increased use of compassionate release Other options editFor prisoners suffering from terminal illnesses alternative options include programs that distribute health materials and segregation of affected individuals 12 and expanded hospice programs Hospice programs within the prisons have been used although this does not address the humanitarian aspect of allowing inmates to die with dignity among family and friends and the issue of cost to the state is still prevalent Specialized medical care in a prison setting is difficult to achieve and is a costly proposition With the prison population aging and in poorer health than the general population as previously mentioned cost may become a prohibitive factor increasing the attraction of compassionate release where possible For non medical cases such as care for a family member in the absence of other available parties practical alternatives are difficult to identify A minor child or disabled spouse for whom no other caregiver is available is likely to end up as a ward of the courts or in institutional care if the compassionate release request is not granted As of 2009 corrections systems with compassionate release procedures included the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons often known as the BOP 13 Scotland England and Wales China France New Zealand and 36 of the 50 U S state prison systems 14 Legislation on compassionate release by country editNew Zealand edit New Zealand legislation includes a provision for prisoners to apply for compassionate release from prison Section 41 of the Parole Act 2002 provides that the Parole board may on referral by the chairperson direct that an offender be released on compassionate release on either of the following grounds a the offender has given birth to a child or b the offender is seriously ill and is unlikely to recover 15 The Department of Corrections is not responsible for decisions regarding compassionate release of prisoners When a prisoner is seriously ill and unlikely to recover an application will be made to the New Zealand Parole Board where an independent decision will be made 16 All prisoners in New Zealand are eligible for compassionate release The length of a sentence or eligibility for parole are not factors that will affect the prisoner s ability to apply for compassionate release 17 In November 2016 a high profile prisoner Vicki Ravana Letele was granted compassionate release from prison Letele was sentenced to three years and two months for ten charges of dishonestly using a document The application for compassionate release was based on Letele s diagnosis of metastatic cancer Her illness was terminal with a life expectancy of 6 months The chairman of the Parole Board Hon J W Gendall initially declined Letele s release on compassionate grounds citing It is quite often the case that prisoners contract or are diagnosed with serious illness but if they can be adequately treated and managed in prison and death is not imminent that compassionate release is not appropriate It is not the case that family and others may reasonably believe that the prisoner should be in the care of his her family at such difficult times 18 The serving Prime Minister of New Zealand in 2016 Sir John Key voiced his opinion on the Letele case following widespread public outcry and protest Key stated I would have thought we were a pretty compassionate country We do need to take on board the criminal activity that the person s undertaken but I don t think we want to see people dying in prison if on compassionate grounds it s reasonable they be returned home 19 Initial conflicting views between the Ministry of Justice and the Parole Board were resolved on 10 November 2016 when the Parole Board under Section 41 of the Parole Act 2002 ordered the compassionate release of Letele The decision factored in that there was no offending history the prison security classification was low and Letele was seriously ill and unlikely to recover 20 Between the years of 2015 and 2016 seven prisoners were released on compassionate grounds all cases determined on the basis that they were seriously ill and unlikely to recover Figures from the years 2006 2013 revealed a total of twenty five applications with three of those declined 21 The application process for compassionate release can be difficult to achieve on time which is one of the reasons that very few applications are received 22 Other reasons include the likelihood of a prisoner dying in prison before an application is approved and an absence of reasonable and available support from family if a prisoner is released from prison Furthermore long stay prisoners may not wish to be released the prison may be regarded as home and fellow inmates as family 22 Human rights approachIn practice the Parole Board only releases prisoners on compassionate release if they are seriously ill and unlikely to recover However the Act also provides for compassionate release of a prisoner when they have given birth to a child 23 Prison management first assesses the prisoner s suitability taking into account security classification the welfare of the prisoner and the child and the views of the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki formerly Child Youth and Family A report is then submitted to the Parole Board 24 However the establishment of mother and baby units in prisons has made this provision practically void The reason as for why it has not been removed from the Act is that it would violate New Zealand s International Human Rights obligations and be in contravention of Section 19 of the Bill of Rights Act Freedom from Discrimination 25 if it were not available 26 Comparatively compassionate release is based on underlying principles of human dignity Dignity in this sense refers to the right of a human being to have inherent equal and inalienable rights to achieve social progress and better standards of living Preventing the release of seriously ill prisoners would undeniably violate their human dignity 27 The 2004 review of Human Rights in New Zealand stated that the vulnerability of people in detention was one of New Zealand s most pressing human rights issues 28 The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child UNCROC 29 and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women CEDAW 30 is the relevant conventions concerning compassionate release In practice the Department of Corrections supports a child s contact with parents who are in prison when it is in the best interests of the child Prisoners are encouraged to have positive relationships with their children so they can better reintegrate on release 31 These principles uphold New Zealand s obligations under Article 9 of UNCROC Separation from Parents and includes several programs including Mothers with Babies Units Mothers and Bonding Facilities and importantly Prison Activities Centres that teach fathers parenting skills 31 Similarly under New Zealand s obligations in Article 12 of CEDAW 32 improvements were made in women s correctional facilities to include Mothers with Babies Units allowing mothers to keep their children with them in prison up until the age of two where it was previously 9 months The aim of this is to achieve a reduction in re offending for women and increase their children s life chances 33 Compassionate release must be available to prisoners following the birth of a child to meet the obligations that are specified in these conventions 26 In practice the incorporation of units that enable a relationship between a mother and child in prison is consistent with the obligations that New Zealand has in the context of international human rights This explains the apparent non existence of compassionate release on the ground that a prisoner has given birth 33 United Kingdom edit England and Wales edit Applications for early release on compassionate grounds are allowed in England and Wales for prisoners serving determinate or indeterminate sentences 34 Three general principles are applied during the decision making process the safety of the public new information not available to the court and whether there was a specific purpose for the early release 35 Prisoners serving determinate sentences are also eligible for compassionate release based on tragic family circumstances Prisoners serving indeterminate sentences are excluded from this provision and are subject to further restricting criteria in an application for compassionate release based on terminal illness 34 They will be assessed on the risk of re offending particularly of a sexual or violent nature whether further imprisonment would reduce their life expectancy whether adequate arrangements are available outside prison and whether early release will provide some significant benefit to their family Where conditions are self induced such as a hunger strike or refusal of treatment an application may be declined 34 The aging prison population edit The rates of death from natural causes in prison doubled from 2008 to 2017 with 199 occurring in the year to March 2017 36 The age of the prison population is rising due to a shift in major sentencing trends prison terms are increasingly longer for the older population 36 The Prison Reform Trust called for a review of the current compassionate release process commenting on the difficulty that a medical professional will have diagnosing a three month life expectancy The Trust recommended that a one year life expectancy be sufficient for an application for compassionate release from prison 37 The former Deputy Director of the Trust observed that older prisoners who are terminally ill are unlikely to pose a risk to the public He believed that a range of options should be considered including compassionate release to ensure that people spend their last days with dignity 38 High profile cases such as the release of Reggie Kray in 2000 and Ronnie Briggs in 2009 raised issues regarding the term compassionate release 39 The idea that compassion should be exercised with prisoners was a concept that did not reconcile with popular societal views 38 Costs associated with medical care for the elderly and terminally ill was noted with acceptance of the costs that are incurred by sending prison guards to hospital and providing palliative care within the prison environment However early release is largely deemed to be socially incompatible 38 Human rights of older persons edit Compassionate release is founded on a humanitarian concern for the dying and practical reasons such as high costs or the inability to care adequately for such persons in prison 40 Prison is generally deemed unsuitable for compassionate end of life care due to its punitive purpose 41 End of life care exists in prisons in England and Wales but the adequacy of the care has been challenged as the opposing goals of security and compassionate care are said to be mutually exclusive 40 In May 2016 the Council of Europe European Committee on Crime Problems issued a white paper on prison overcrowding The paper addressed the root causes of prison overcrowding and supports the wide application for early release for seriously ill and aged prisoners on compassionate grounds 42 A 2011 report to the UN Secretary General highlighted the difficulties with the aging population particularly regarding the long term care of the elderly This is made worse by the lack of legal framework to monitor human rights violations in long term care facilities 43 Dying and suffering are not part of a prisoner s punishment 44 Human rights recommendations for aging prisoners advocate that necessary changes should be made to adapt to the older prisoner s physical and mental health If changes cannot be adequately implemented then compassionate release of the prisoner should be considered in order not to violate Article 3 on inhumane and degrading treatment of the European Convention on Human Rights Scotland edit The Scottish legal system permits compassionate release for terminal illnesses There are only a few applications per year and most are granted A prominent case was that of Abdelbaset al Megrahi released on 20 August 2009 because of prostate cancer 45 United States edit In the United States forms of compassionate release are found both federally and in the laws of thirty nine states With the rapid increase in prison populations following the introduction of mandatory minimum sentencing laws in the 1990s many people have called for the expanded use of compassionate release as a safety valve to relieve overcrowded prison systems and reduce pressure on government budgets as well as to ease the suffering of inmates and their families 46 47 48 49 Some states have recently expanded their forms of compassionate release as can be seen in New York s changes to its medical parole laws to include both the terminally ill and chronically ill inmates in the absence of a prognosis of imminent death although this has not necessarily resulted in more releases Many who are eligible for compassionate release on grounds of terminal illness and who have applications pending die in prison before their cases are processed due to case backlogs and narrow interpretation of the law 10 The issue of where and how to best deliver end of life care has been compounded by the sheer number of prisoners now incarcerated in the United States as well as by the aging of the prison population 47 49 10 3 8 Federal laws governing compassionate release include 18 U S C 3582 c 1 A which came into effect on 1 November 1987 and governs those whose offences occurred since it was enacted and 18 U S C 4205 g the previous version which still controls the release of inmates who were convicted of offences that occurred on or before that date 2 States that offer compassionate release each have their laws governing eligibility and it may differ from the federal versions both in the requirements for eligibility and in the type of release that can be granted for example medical parole rather than resentencing To seek compassionate release federal inmates must file a petition with the warden Compassionate release is only granted when there are particularly extraordinary or compelling circumstances which could not reasonably have been foreseen by the court at the time of sentencing 50 U S cases edit This section may contain excessive or irrelevant examples Please help improve the article by adding descriptive text and removing less pertinent examples January 2023 In 2013 Herman Wallace was released from Angola Prison to spend the rest of his remaining life in a personal care home A few days later he passed away Lynne Stewart a criminal defence attorney was convicted of passing messages from imprisoned terrorist Omar Abdel Rahman the Blind Sheikh to his followers in al Jama a al Islamiyya Judge John Koeltl sentenced Stewart to ten years in prison but on December 31 2013 Koeltl ordered Stewart released from federal prison due to her terminal breast cancer Koeltl cited the incurable nature of Stewart s disease and the relatively limited risk of recidivism and danger to the community upon release At 74 years old she was released from the Federal Medical Center Carswell in Texas where she had served over four years of her sentence 51 52 Stewart died in March 2017 53 Variation among states edit Different states have various policies on the compassionate release system varying on details such as the life expectancy required to warrant compassionate release 6 References edit Compassionate Release Reduction in Sentence Procedures for Implementation of 18 U S C 3582 c 1 A and 4205 g PDF United States Federal Bureau of Prisons Archived from the original PDF on 3 September 2013 Retrieved 2 May 2014 a b Compassionate Release Reduction in Sentence Procedures for Implementation of 18 U S C 3582 c 1 A and 4205 g PDF US Board of Prisons Archived from the original PDF on 3 September 2013 Retrieved 1 May 2014 a b Beck John A Fall 1999 Compassionate Release from New York State Prisons Journal of Law Medicine amp Ethics 27 3 216 233 doi 10 1111 j 1748 720x 1999 tb01455 x PMID 11067598 S2CID 744237 California Penal Code Section 1170 Spaulding Anne C el al 2011 Prisoner Survival Inside and Outside of the Institution American Journal of Epidemiology 173 5 479 487 doi 10 1093 aje kwq422 PMC 3044840 PMID 21239522 a b The Lancet 2013 Compassionate release in the USA The Lancet 381 9878 1598 doi 10 1016 s0140 6736 13 61007 7 PMID 23663936 S2CID 39959698 The Federal Bureau of Prisons Compassionate Release Program a b O Meara Gregory Compassion and the Public Interest Wisconsin s New Compassionate Release Legislation Federal Sentencing Reporter 23 1 2010 33 38 Print Boothby Jennifer L Overduin Lorraine Y December 2007 Attitudes Regarding the Compassionate Release of Terminally Ill Offenders The Prison Journal 87 4 408 415 doi 10 1177 0032885507306518 ISSN 0032 8855 S2CID 145301614 a b c Berry III William W 2009 Extraordinary and Compelling A Re examination of the Justifications for Compassionate Release Maryland Law Review 2009 68 a b Williams Brie A Greifinger Robert Morrison R Sean 2011 Balancing Punishment and Compassion for Seriously Ill Prisoners Annals of Internal Medicine 155 2 122 126 doi 10 7326 0003 4819 155 2 201107190 00348 PMC 3163454 PMID 21628351 Aldenberg William B Bursting at the Seams An Analysis of Compassionate Release Statutes and the Current Problem of HIV and AIDS in U S Prisons and Jails New England journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement 24 2 1998 541 98 Print BOP Press Release Organ Transplants Archived from the original on 23 July 2012 Retrieved 22 August 2009 36 states release ill or dying inmates USATODAY com usatoday30 usatoday com Retrieved 25 January 2021 Parole Act 2002 No 10 as at 15 May 2017 Public Act Contents New Zealand Legislation legislation govt nz Retrieved 21 December 2018 Compassionate Release 17 May 2017 Obtained under Official Information Act 1982 Request to the Department of Corrections 18 February 2009 652 NZPD 1420 Zealand Parole Board Decision Vicki Ravana Letele 27 October 2016 Wellington Retrieved 21 December 2018 phil taylor nzherald co nz PhilHTaylor Phil Taylor Senior writer Weekend Herald and New Zealand Herald 10 November 2016 Dying prisoner Vicki Letele arrives home to emotional welcome NZ Herald Retrieved 21 December 2018 via www nzherald co nz a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link New Zealand Parole Board Decision Vicki Ravana Letele 10 November 2016 Retrieved 21 December 2018 Zealand Parole Board Annual Report 30 June 2013 at 11 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 21 January 2016 Retrieved 21 December 2018 a b Lum Kerryn L January 2004 Palliative Care Behind Bars The New Zealand Prison Hospice Experience Journal of Pain amp Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy 17 3 4 131 138 doi 10 1080 J354v17n03 19 ISSN 1536 0288 S2CID 37048890 Parole Act 2002 No 10 as at 15 May 2017 Public Act Contents New Zealand Legislation legislation govt nz Retrieved 21 December 2018 Libby Robins Mother and baby prison units An investigative study paper presented to Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Christchurch May 2012 New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 s19 a b Sandra Goudie Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill Initial Briefing 29 April 2009 at 18 Universal Declaration of Human Rights PDF Archived PDF from the original on 7 June 2009 Retrieved 25 January 2021 Human Rights in New Zealand Rights of people who are detained 2010 at 351 Convention on the Rights of the Child 1577 UNTS opened for signature 20 November 1989 entered into force 2 September 1990 1 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 1249 UNTS opened for signature 18 December 1979 entered into force September 3 1981 a b Ministry of Social Development United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Fifth Periodic Report by the Government of New Zealand 2015 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 1249 UNTS opened for signature 18 December 1979 entered into force 3 September 1981 a b Ministry of Social Development United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women Eighth Periodic Report by the Government of New Zealand 2016 a b c HM Prison Service Prison Service Order 6000 Parole Release and Recall 31 March 2005 at 12 Gabrielle Garton Brimwood and Pat Strickland Early release from prison in England and Wales an overview Home Affairs Section 15 May 2013 at 6 a b Prison the facts PDF Bromley Briefings Prison Reform Trust Summer 2017 Retrieved 8 January 2024 Doing time the experiences and needs of older people in prison PDF Prison Reform Trust 2008 Retrieved 21 December 2018 a b c Tamsin Snow Should dying prisoners be given their freedom for a more dignified end 2009 23 Health and Medical Collection 12 at 13 Tamsin Snow Should dying prisoners be given their freedom for a more dignified end 2009 23 Health and Medical Collection 12 at 12 a b Wiebke Bretschneider et al The collision of care and punishment Ageing prisoners view on compassionate release 2017 19 Punishment and Society 5 at 11 N B Mahon Introduction Death and dying behind bars Cross cutting themes and policy imperatives 1999 27 Journal of Law and Medicine Ethics 213 at 215 European Committee on Crime Problems White Paper on Prison Overcrowding Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law June 2016 Officer of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Human Rights of Older Persons Summary of the Report to the Secretary General to the General Assembly 2011 N N Dubler The collision of confinement and care End of life care in prisons and jails 1998 26 The Journal of Law Medicine and Ethics 149 at 156 Scottish govt defends Lockerbie bomber s release Yahoo News Associated Press 24 August 2009 Archived from the original on 28 August 2009 Compassionate release is a regular feature of the Scottish system when a prisoner is near death Of the 31 applications over the last decade 24 prisoners have been freed on compassionate grounds in Scotland including Megrahi Another seven applications were turned down because the medical evidence did not support the claim Buckley Cara 29 January 2010 For Inmates in New York Hurdles to Compassionate Release The New York Times Retrieved 2 May 2014 a b Dubler Nancy 1998 The Collision of Confinement and Care The Journal of Law Medicine amp Ethics 26 2 149 156 doi 10 1111 j 1748 720X 1998 tb01670 x PMID 11657351 S2CID 45569390 Murphy Nicole M Summer 2012 Dying to be Free Marquette Law Review 95 4 1679 1741 Retrieved 2 May 2014 permanent dead link a b Williams Brie et al 2011 Balancing Punishment and Compassion for Seriously Ill Prisoners Annals of Internal Medicine 155 2 122 W44 doi 10 7326 0003 4819 155 2 201107190 00348 PMC 3163454 PMID 21628351 Compassionate Release Procedures For Implementation 18 USC 3582 4205 Hawk Kathleen M 19 May 1998 Program Statement Compassionate Release Procedures for Implementation of 18 U S C 3582 c 1 A amp 4205 g PDF U S Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons Archived from the original PDF on 2 September 2009 Retrieved 8 January 2024 Ferrigno Lorenzo 1 January 2014 Dying defense lawyer Lynne Stewart released from jail CNN Retrieved 3 May 2014 NY judge orders compassionate release of terror lawyer Lynne Stewart Fox News 31 December 2013 Retrieved 3 May 2014 Fried Joseph P 7 March 2017 Lynne Stewart Lawyer Imprisoned in Terrorism Case Dies at 77 The New York Times External links editNew Zealand Bill of Rights Act HRC Rights of People who are Detained Human Rights and Prisons Prison Reform Trust Older People in Prison Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Compassionate release amp oldid 1195111985, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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