But what about his crime?

To the editor:

(re: “Parole reform takes center election stage,” March 3)

I was shocked by the absence of any reference or mention of the crimes Mr. Jose Colon must have committed to be charged with a 30-year-plus sentence for murder. In fact, I kept reading paragraph after paragraph searching for one sentence that would maybe shed light on the reason Jose Colon was in prison.

My surprise turned to resignation as I realized incarceration is no longer about the victim who was murdered, but about the rights of the incarcerated. I was left to use my imagination as to the tragic end that befell Mr. Colon’s victim. Whose mother, father, child, brother, sister or friend did he murder? How old was the person? Was it someone he knew?

Unfortunately you whitewashed and neglected to mention any facts of the crime, instead choosing to highlight Mr. Colon’s accomplishments in prison. He even had the opportunity to get married! Wow, I wonder what aspirations his victim had when his or her life was abruptly cut short?

You quote Mr. Colon’s wife as saying “The nature of the crime is never going to change,” well what was his crime? How do you expect to garner sympathy with your reader by painting a one-sided picture of your argument for early release with no mention of the victim’s family?

I agree with Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz that the elder parole bill does not address the type of crime in any way.  You end your story writing about Mr. Colon’s wife Jeannie contemplating what their life would be like together if he were finally released.

After reading that statement, I couldn’t help but wonder what Mr. Colon’s victim’s family and friends were contemplating about their lost relative’s life and opportunity. How many birthdays, weddings, graduations, holidays and events were celebrated without their mother, father, child, brother or sister?

Next time you cover this topic, perhaps a better analysis of both sides of the argument would be greatly appreciated.

Naomi Dorfman

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