[FONT=Times New Roman,Times,Serif]He was denied parole! difficult child read her statement (that we prepared last night together) and got about 1/4 of the way into the second paragraph before she fell to pieces. I had to continue for her, and I was already teared up, my voice was cracking, but I was determined to speak her peace. It was good. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times,Serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times,Serif]Then, at the end, I asked if I could make an additional comment and they said yes, so I was able to comment on some things that the defendent had said during his time....all he talked about was how he's grown from this and how he doesn't want to be the person he was and how he feels bad about this having a lasting effect on daughter but he can only see things from how he feels and how he's changed, etc....oh, and he found God too - I just love that (difficult child and I just gaped at each other at that point; at some point she asked if I would hold her hand). And when asked if he had a propensity to target underage girls, even though it clearly states in his record that he does, he answered "no, I don't think that I do, it's just that it was discovered after the fact." Later difficult child pointed out that perhaps that is because he was only caught twice at it. Ick. And the board kept pointing out his age and the difference in years...etc.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times,Serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times,Serif]So, when I was able to speak my peace, I said that in order for him to truly have rehabilitated himself, he needs to learn empathy so he CAN understand how his victims feel. That it seemed to me that Mr. ____ continues to be the same self centered person he was 3 years ago because all he seems to care about is how he's come through this, without a thought or concern as to how his victim has come through it. I said that perhaps when Mr. ________ is fully capable of feeling and showing some empathy for his victim, then a parole may be a consideration, but in my world, it's too soon. He has a lot more growing up to do - and he's 32!!!!! O.M.G. [/FONT]
Thanks for the support - I am so proud of difficult child for being able to not only attend, but for facing him.
Janet, if he had been removed from the room when difficult child made her statement, it wouldn't have been a part of the official record of proceedings for some reason - it's a loophole in the law - so difficult child decided that she could do it. He was no less than 5 feet from her when she sat up there in front of the panel and we spoke. She said it was like a surreal experience afterwards because in her mind she kept pushing it all down deeper and deeper, ignoring that it ever happened and pretending it was a dream, but that when she saw him, it all came flooding back and she felt so weird. I'm guessing that is similar to an out of body experience? Not sure, but I think the overall goal of her being able to face her assailant and *hopefully* move from this has moved a little closer to us all. I'm grateful.
