From: nattyreb@ix.netcom.com
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 17:58:29
Subject: !*NO PAROLE FOR THERESA CRUZ

This OUTRAGE has gone far enough, please let these
people know that WOMEN have the RIGHT to defend
themselves and their CHILDREN from ABUSE by
ANY MEANS NECESSARY!
========================================

From: "Block, Diana" 

In a split decision, Theresa Cruz was turned down for parole on May 4 and
was given another hearing date in a year.  The one woman on the review panel
voted for her release while the two men voted against it.  One of the men
told Theresa's lawyer afterwards that it was "a hard decision for him to
make" and next time he would probably support her release (although he might
not be part of the panel reviewing her case next year).  Theresa's abuser
came to the hearing and read a five page statement about why she shouldn't
be released which certainly helped influence the panel negatively.

In another setback, the ninth district circuit court refused to review the
panel ruling which upheld Theresa's original conviction.  At this point
there do not seem to be other options for appeal throught the courts and
Theresa's conviction, on the basis of an extremely problematic trial,
stands.

Last year at this time, Theresa and her family were filled with hope after
her conviction was overturned and it looked like she might be reunited with
her children in a short time.   While it is difficult not to be discouraged,
Theresa and her family are determined to fight for her release on parole or
possibly through a clemency petition to Governor Davis.  Now the focus needs
to be on building broad public awareness about her case and support for her
release in order to pressure the parole board and Davis.  Her case
exemplifies not only the miscarriage of justice for battered women but also
the serious problems with the parole board and its failure to release
thousands of people who qualify according to its own guidelines.

Below is a letter for people to sign  and circulate for signature.
Occupation and organization are requested in order to give a sense of the
breadth of support.  It can be emailed back to ccwp@igc.org or mailed to 100
McAllister St., SF, CA  94102.

Theresa Cruz can be written at #W-40058, CIW, Frontera, CA  91720.

 <> 

RELEASE THERESA CRUZ!
AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS, 
ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL LOCKYER & THE BOARD OF PRISON TERMS 


	We the undersigned are writing to urge your immediate attention to
the case of Theresa Cruz, a battered woman from San Diego who has been in
prison for eight years and should be released immediately. 
 
	Theresa Cruz, a Latina woman with four children, was abused and
stalked for five years.  When her abuser threatened to take away their child
she confided in a friend about her fears. The friend then shot the abuser in
the legs.  Although the abuser did not suffer any permanent injury, Theresa
was accused of conspiracy to commit murder.  During her trial, the judge
didn't allow testimony on her abuse, and she was convicted. Although this
was a first offense, she was sentenced to 7 years to life in prison.
Theresa, her mother, and her children have fought ceaselessly to win her
release. In April 1998, after seven and a half years in prison, a federal
appeals judge overturned Theresa's conviction, giving Theresa and her family
hope that she would be reunited with them soon.  But the state of California
appealed the ruling to the ninth district circuit court and the circuit
court upheld the original conviction.  In May 1999 Theresa was turned down
for parole for the second time.

	We believe that the treatment which Theresa has received at the
hands of the judicial system represents a continuing destructive bias
against battered women which puts the burden of punishment on them instead
of on their abusers. Theresa is one of dozens of battered women who were
tried and convicted before significant 1992 judicial decisions and new laws
were passed which support the use of expert testimony on domestic violence
and the introduction of evidence of previous abuse in courtrooms.

	Theresa has been separated from her family long enough.  We urge you
to give her case the priority it deserves and insure her release on parole
as soon as possible!


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