O.J. Simpson to be Released on Parole in October

O.J. Simpson is back in the news again, and this time it’s a positive development for the former NFL superstar. A Nevada parole board voted unanimously to grant Simpson parole after a televised hearing which saw him plead his case that he had learned his lesson. Simpson is now scheduled to be released on October 1^st after serving nine years of his 33-year sentence that he was given after being convicted of armed robbery in Las Vegas in 2008.

Prosecutors cited Simpson’s lack of a prior conviction, low risk of the potential to commit another crime, broad community support, and his solid release plans, which include moving to Florida. Simpson, now 70 years old, told the board “I had no intent to commit a crime. ... I've done my time. I'd just like to get back to my family and friends -- believe it or not, I do have some real friends -- and I tried to be helpful to everybody."

Simpson also highlighted his good behavior in prison during his hearing, reminding the parole board that he kept his promise to stay out of trouble during his sentence. His conduct, along with completing an “alternative to violence” course, reduced his sentence by more than 50 percent.

This is also not the first time Simpson has been successful before the parole board. Back in 2013, the same four parole officers granted him parole on 12 of his charges. This decision meant he would need to serve only four additional years before reaching his minimum term.

Simpson is a former Heisman Trophy winner, accomplished professional athlete, and has appeared in advertisements and feature films, but he is perhaps best known for his previous run-in with the law. In 1995, Simpson stood trial for accusations of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman. While he was ultimately found not guilty, the trial was a media spectacle that garnered national attention and highlighted controversial debates over celebrity justice and televised courtroom proceedings.

Parole & Pardon Hearings in Connecticut

Depending what charges you were convicted of, you may be eligible for parole after serving a designated amount of your sentence. Parole is the ability to continue to serve your sentence outside of prison, going on with your daily life with a few restricted rights. If you become eligible for parole, you will be given the opportunity to tell parole officers why you should be released, and doing so successfully could get you out of prison and back to your family and friends sooner.

This means preparation for your hearing is an extremely important task that you should take seriously. At Carlson & Dumeer, LLC, our Hartford criminal defense attorneys can guide you through your preparation and coach you on the best approach to your hearing in order to give you an excellent chance at a successful outcome.

Connecticut has also placed a renewed emphasis on giving those convicted of criminal offenses a second chance. If you were formerly convicted of a crime and are still feeling the effects of having a conviction on your record, our team can work with you to obtain either a full or provisional pardon for offense. If you have successfully completed your sentence, including your probation or parole period, remained conviction free, and taken positive actions to rehabilitate yourself and become a contributing member of the community, our attorneys may be able to help you obtain a pardon, which removes the offense from your record. We can assist you all throughout your pardon process, including helping you properly fill out and file the pardon application and can guide you through your pardon hearing with confidence.