Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion and sentenced to life in prison in 1996. Their sentences were shortened in May to 50 years to life under California youth offender laws, making them eligible for parole. Erik will have a parole hearing on August 21 and Lyle on August 22 while both remain held at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility. A parole panel will assess whether they pose an "unreasonable risk of danger to society." Chief legal counsel then has 120 days to review approvals, and the governor must sign within 30 days for parole to take effect. A judge and family members said 35 years served may warrant a chance at release.
"a panel of two or three parole hearing officers from a board of commissioners"
the parole hearing officers will assess whether the brothers pose an "unreasonable risk of danger to society" (according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation).
"I'm not saying they should be released; it's not for me to decide," Judge Michael Jesic said at their May resentencing. "I do believe they've done enough in the past 35 years, that they should get that chance."
"We all, on both sides of the family, believe that 35 years is enough," Baralt said. "They are universally forgiven by our family."
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