UPDATED: O. J. Simpson Focuses Increased Attention to Nevada’s Parole System

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Original Post:

After serving nine years in Lovelock Correctional Center in Northern Nevada, O.J. Simpson, 70, made famous as a college and NFL football star, will be brought before the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners, on July 20, 2017, and may be granted a release from the Nevada prison system. If granted parole, he will be released from Lovelock in October 2017. His life represents a meteoric rise to fame and fortune, followed by a dramatic fall; all documented and broadcast live on TV.

What Crimes Did O. J. Simpson Commit in Nevada?

Without recounting the full breadth of O. J.’s rise and fall, (there are other resources available for that), we will focus on what acts occurred in Nevada which resulted in his eventual conviction and incarceration in the Nevada prison system, and how the Nevada legal system may allow for his release.

In September 2007, O. J. Simpson and five other men, forcibly entered a guest room at Palace Station Hotel, and held the room’s occupant, Bruce Fromong, a memorabilia dealer and auctioneer, at gun point, demanding Fromong return various items of sports memorabilia and personal items that Simpson considered to be his.

Simpson was arrested and, over a year later, after a high-profile trial was convicted of 12 criminal counts, including burglary and kidnapping. His sentencing in December 2008 resulted in a sentence of 33 years in prison with possibility of parole.

David Roger, Clark County District Attorney at the time, personally prosecuted the case in front of Judge Jackie Glass. Roger said, “We don’t want people going into rooms with guns to take property – that is robbery.” The jury agreed and found Simpson guilty. He was sentenced and began serving his sentence in December 2008.

What is the Parole System in Nevada?

Part of the Nevada Department of Public Safety, the Parole and Probation Division is a state law enforcement agency tasked with a multi-faceted and comprehensive set of duties, including advising courts with pre-sentencing reports; collecting and distributing restitution payments to victims of crimes; supervising parolee activities and enforcing conditions of release; monitoring of sex offenders, violent offenders, and high risk offenders; and preparing supervision and violation reports to the Board of Parole Commissioners, more commonly known as the Parole Board.

The Board of Parole Commissioners is a seven-person board, appointed by the governor to four-year terms. The board is created and granted authority under NRS 213.108. One of the seven commissioners is appointed as chairman. It is this seven-person board that O. J. will appear before, via teleconference, and ask for release from prison on Thursday. This will be the second time Simpson has met with the Board. He previously was granted parole for several counts of which he was convicted, in 2013; however, he was not eligible under his sentencing to be paroled for the remaining counts until this year. If the Board grants parole for the remaining counts, O. J. may be released from prison in October 2017.

If released, the Board will place conditions of parole upon Simpson, which he will be required to follow for a term imposed by the board, and he will be under the supervision of the Parole and Probation Division, who will monitor his compliance with the conditions of his parole. Former D.A., David Roger, Simpson’s prosecutor in the 2008 trial, said, “He’s done an awful lot of time…I can’t imagine him doing another robbery at age 70. I suspect that he’ll be on parole for a period of time and if he messes up, then he’ll go back to prison.”

Simpson has requested release from prison due to good behavior, and the Board will consider a pre-sentence investigation, a parole hearing report, an update on Simpson’s behavior over the last four years, and a risk assessment prepared by the Parole and Probation Division, and letters of support and/or opposition. The Board is the final authority of the State of Nevada to determine his eligibility for parole. The decision of the board regarding O. J. Simpson will be announced Thursday, July 20, 2017.

The Defenders Can Help If You Have Been Sentenced and Given Probation

If you were convicted of a crime and sentenced, and probation was granted as part of your sentence, the Parole and Probation Division will supervise the conditions of your probation. This requires regular check-ins with an officer of the Division, and certain limits on behavior while on probation.

If you believe that you may have violated the terms of your probation, call The Defenders today to discuss your case, at (702) 666-6666.

Read More:

http://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/oj-simpson-up-for-parole/767849366

http://npp.dps.nv.gov/About/Overview/

http://parole.nv.gov

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/oj-simpson-goes-before-nevada-parole-board-thursday/

https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/o-j-simpson-granted-parole/

http://news3lv.com/news/local/the-juice-will-be-loose-oj-simpson-granted-parole