Schwarzenegger mulls clemency for Williams

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Friday that he would consider granting clemency to Crips co-founder and convicted murderer Stanley Tookie Williams.

Politically, Schwarzenegger will take massive hits regardless of his choice, so he might as well do what he believes to be right. And at the very least, he’s signalled repeatedly he is considering clemency (which would mean life no parole, not freedom.) BTW, Arnold has unquestionably greatly liberalized the California prison system, aiming it towards rehab, not punishment. See our post on Jeanne Woodford’s talk. She’s Director of the Calif. Dept. of Corrections, was appointed by him, and among other things, is aiming at getting prisoners off alcohol and drugs so they don’t return, something the more neandertal prison guards call "hug-a-thug."