Old wounds won't heal in SLA case

Just because Olsen evaded capture for 20 years shouldn't result in a slap on the wrist now. She should be sentenced as if it happened yesterday. The rest of her life in jail would be just about right. If Bin Laden doesn't get caught till he's an old man should we let him go? . Unfortunately, Olsen won't get the death penalty but that is what she and her friends had in mind for others.

Holley described the latest developments by saying, “It’s like we’re living in some kind of fascist state.” She may seek a new hearing and has vowed to fight for her client’s release, again.

No because if this was a facist state she would've been put to death when she was arrested–after 20 years on the run.

This is ridiculous. She served her time and they're changing the rules as they go along. I can't wait to see what they cook up a year from now. Yes, she was involved in the SLA, who were responsible for several acts of violence, one of which took the life of an innocent bystander, but they set the sentence six years ago and that seemed fine with everyone until last week. This is awfully similar to the way the Chinese government operates. They couldn't sentence the other SLA members to sentences long enough to appease the Opsahl family or the Police League and now Olson has to serve time and bear the brunt of their vendettas for all of the former SLA members. Myrna Opsahl's son needs to let it go. Yes, the SLA was responsible for the death of his mother, but they convicted Olson and sentenced her within guidelines, they can't change the rules at the end. Has Mr. Opsahl nothing better to do with his time than make sure a woman who became an upstanding, productive member of society rots in prison? Mr. Opsahl didn't get as long as he'd like with his mother, but Olson's children being separated from theirs won't improve his or anyone's situation. Lay down your anger, Mr. Opsahl, she has served her time.

She was a terrorist involved in violent crime including attempts to murder law enforcement officers. She should have received life in prison with no possibility of parole

I find it irritating that everyone in the news media calls this evil woman Sara Jane Olson when that is a phony name she made up to hide from justice. Her name is, was, and should always be Kathleen Soliah. She is a cowardly cop-killing murdering terrorist, NOT a harmless suburban mom. If she's so great, she should've stepped up years ago to face her punishment. Those children should be taken from her permanently, as they were simply pawns to help her meld quietly into polite society. She's not a reformed loving mother. I wouldn't be surprised if the duped media starts calling her Mary-Kate.

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

So Mr. Sands and the L.A. Police Protective League are preaching that the lives of innocent bystanders and/or police officers are inherently more valuable than those of direct victims (although innocent) of crime.

Police are no more valuable than any other member of this society. They tout the danger of their job as justification for special consideration. The fact is, there are many dangerous and dirty jobs in this country. Police officers are not extra-special citizens.

Police officers choose the career path voluntarily, knowing all along that the work is tough, dangerous, and the pay is not exhorbinant. They are not entitled to special rights or consideration, any moreso than garbage collectors, paramedics, and social workers who also face and deal with the filth society generates. Often their efforts are heroic, but too often they abuse the powers that come with the badge. Stop demanding elevated consideration as some form of entitlement. Punishment for crimes leading to their deaths should be no more and no less than any other American citizen.

She was a terrorist and was convicted of trying to kill cops. She shouldn't BE leaving, much less early.

So, tell me again why we are spending money to keep someone in prison that is no longer a threat to society? Are we punishing her as a deterent to discourage others from trying to kill cops? I hardly think this will work – every criminal KNOWS he won't get caught. We are letting far worse out on the streets to reduce crowding in prisons. I would much rather see her as my next-door neighbor than them. Cops, if I were you, I'd be going after the ones that STILL want you dead. Not some suburban housewife. This is a waste of taxpayer money.

I can't believe after what Soliah has done that there are still people in this day and age that support her aggrecious behavior no matter how long ago it occurred. If it was your family member that was killed or your car that the bomb was attached to I'm sure you would yelling to throw away the key. Talk about double standards!

Sara Jane Olsen is a domestic terrorist who has murdered an American citizen. She deserves a fate no less than that of any other terrorist who commit similar crimes. The length of time that has passed since the crime does not mitigate the crime. You cannot reward someone for going on the lam. That should increase her punishment, not decrease it. If all you get in California for killing someone as part of a bank robbery is six years, that is setting a very bad precedent. Dirty Harry, where are you when we need you?

She should not be the beneficiary of a "clerical error." She's also not the first to ever be re-arrested when there has been an error made. 14 years is not enough for what she did–I remember!

Sara Jane Olson, as I remember the newspaper articles, should serve her ENTIRE prison sentence. Her "early release" would make her a target by every cop in the USA that would want to arrest her and put her back behind bars. She got lucky to be re-arrested early. But it would be better for her to serve a sentence longer than just till March 17, 2009. Her early release would make her a flight risk again.
sara jane Olson must remain in prison till she's in her 70s.

It's so hard to find good, legal workers in the US anymore. I bet the prison grounds are really nice, and she should continue to keep them looking nice until about 2525.

Sara Jane Olsen has served the time she was sentenced to. It's to
late to add another couple of years on, or sentence her to death. Using buzz words, like terrorist, is ugly and unthruthful. You don't
have to like Ms. Olsen, but you do have to abide by the Constitution of
the United States.

They shouldn't have re-arrested her it was the Jails fault and they should have to live with there mistake. Mistakes like this shouldn't be made.

Hey, Dennis Watts – you stated "Using buzz words, like terrorist, is ugly and unthruthful". What do you call someone who plants bombs and attempts destructive actions agains a nation? A terrorist. In this case, a domestic terrorist... remember Timothy McVeigh? There is no difference between the two.

You may think calling Soliah a terroristis ugly but it is certainly NOT untruthful. She is just as much a terrorist as McVeigh and Nichols. The number of deaths she caused is much less but the act and the reason behind it is the same. She should have gotten life and I don't feel the least bit sorry for her. She had 20 years for herself, now she has to pay as many years as possible for what she did. Tough.

I just can't believe this is happening! I am outraged, as are many others, about the abuse of power that goes on in the U.S. I wonder what our world would be like if everyone had a kind, positive attitude. I guess we'll never know if Hillary isn't elected. Everyone knows the prison systems are not fit for human beings and the abuse is heartbreaking, but we don't do anything about it because the powers that be won't allow change. I just read a report from a woman in prison and there is nothing changing for the better in the prisons. It totally disgusts me to think of the crap that goes on by our 'powers that be' civilians as well as our soldiers. Just thinking about the injustice in the U.S. makes me want to throw up!! Sara Jane Olson served her time, leave her the hell alone!!! She can use whatever name she wants to use, she can write and say whatever she wants. Just because she doesn't agree with the violent prison systems we have here is not reason to put her back in. Get over it – you can't possibly control everything and everyone. Sara is just another example of how totally ignorant our 'powers that be' really are. For those of you who don't believe me, think about it, if you would do some research about what really goes on in our little portion of the world you would be disgusted also. If you can read, and if you know anything about libraries, you can research some of the terrible things our 'powers that be' do and we all allow them to get away with it. I hope our kids and grandkids are smarter than we are and force changes!! I hope they are smart enough to elect a woman for president who has experience in dealing with our corrupt politics and 'powers that be' and who is very intelligent and willing to stand up to all the wrongs in the U.S. Let Sara Jane Olson go for God's sake, she has not done anything to deserve your abuse!!!!

this is what i really do not understand.we have a prison system to "reform" people who do bad things.now as i see it she did her crime back in the 70's ok she went into hiding got a life became a mother and was doing what all we as a people want every one to do she didnt break any laws she became a upstanding person in her community she knew she did wrong but she turned her back on that life and was trying to make a new one.why put her in prison to "reform" her? when she didnt need it? and waste taxpayers money? it does seem like now a days our county changes the rules as it goes along.ok they caught her put her in prison and then let her go.she was put in prison to be "reformed" she did her time for her mistake its time to let it go i am sure that she is not thinking as soon as she gets out shes going to put more bombs under police cars.she served her time get over it and let the lady live her life.

The judge who presided over this case passes the sentencing, not Joe Blows like you and me. To let her out and then take her back to prison in my opinion is cruel and unusual punishment. What's being done to the person(s) who made this mistake? Oh wait.. they work for the government, no harm no foul when it comes to being a government employee.

To all of you who say "she has served her time", I would suggest you read up on what actually happened. She did not, in fact, 'serve her time'. She was accidentally released prior to what her actual release date should have been due to clerical error.

Secondly, to the writer Pat, who says that Mrs. Opsahl's son should "lay down your anger", i'd like to know if you'd feel the same if it was your mother that was killed by this terrorist and her group or cronies. His mother was murdered, and you think that 6 years in prison is a fair punishment (with an early release to boot)?

Finally, incidents like this, with clerical errors resulting in early releases of prisoners, although rare, are no justification to simply let a convocted murderer go free. How you can think that the departments of corrections should just tell the victims families "Oops, sorry, we f**ked up!' and let the convicted murderer go is beyond my comprehension. And that's not to mention the fact that this convicted murderer also attempted to kill police officers, who, in my opinion, DO deserve special consideration. They walk the streets every day to protect you and I and when some idiot like this does anything to try to end one of their lives I think that person deserves the maximum penalty allowable under the law. Spare me your tears for this convicted murderer. I hope she rots in prison for the rest of her life for what she did.

OK..umm..yeah..fascist state..whatever.
If it was YOUR family memeber that was killed,i can guarantee that most of you people whining about this would be screaming bloody murder for her to be locked back up.

What a waste of time and taxpayer money to continue pursuing someone who recieved the hardest sentence out of all the SLA members. Being from the twin cities, Sara Jane Olson is not a threat to any society and is actually well respected and supported here. I think the guilt and hardship of being on the run for so long, for actions against police and gov't during a very volatile time in America, when she was so young herself speaks volumes. Mr. Opsahl needs to put his unhealthy anger to rest, start forgiving, because being angry isn't going to bring his mom back, but having peace in your life will open the doors of her loving memory. No ones wins here.

She did her time, they let her go. She's free, and shouldn't have to do another moment in jail. It's their mistake. I say they should just swallow it, and move along.

I think the amount of time she received is fair enough. I don't think she is the same person as she was back then and it is time to move on.

I still think Patty Hearst should be in prison. She was just as involved as Ms. Olsen.

I have to agree with Mr. Grimshaw and Mike, below, except for Mr. Grimshaw's advocacy of the death penalty, which I do not agree with. Nevertheless, the SLA was not a radical political organization, nor even a terrorist organization. They were a rag-tag group of misfits without any politicial credentials or intellectual sophistication. They were much more akin to Manson's "Family" than they were to any left-wing organization of the time, including the Sandanistas or even the ridiculous Weather Underground. They were, in fact, an embarrassment to the counter-culture, and did much to usher in the Reagan era and its neocons, by way of reaction. Ms. Olson should stay in prison for life: she is a killer, and one without any good reason. She just did what she was told by her pimp, "Cinque." Good riddance.

The word "terrorist" is the new black!

You people should get over yourselves and start paying attention to your children before they become terrorists. Better yet, look to the king of the hill in the United States. Terrorist number 1

The SLA was doing exactly what the US government was doing. They were fighting fire with fire.

Reality check, anyone?

Why is it so much worse to attempt to kill a cop than anybody else, what people seem to forget here is that she has already served more time than most of the people involved and she isn't the one who pulled the trigger. It is completly unfair to keep this woman locked up because of law enforcements own incompitence when it came to the SLA. Patty Hearst was one of the top people and she got a presidential pardon for crying out loud. Yes what she did was wrong, but no more wrong than everyone else involved.

She should be referred to by her actual name "Kathleen Soliah".
This degenerate should not be rewarded for evading justice, nor should she be rewarded for a clerical error.
She, and her crime(s), should not be romanticized or glamourized.
She should be in prison for the rest of her life.

WOW, bunch of people hating people. Her mentality is no different than yours. Let's kill off everybody than doesn't agree with us, then we'll own the whole earth and everything will go our way. God provided a different way for us to go. Its called Love, Understanding and Forgiveness. He will provide the retribution.

First and foremost she committed these crimes twenty years ago with not so much as a traffic ticket since then. Secondly she never KILLED a cop, she was part of a group that tried to kill two cops. We parole people covicted of more severe, heinous crimes all the time without the outrage people are giving this case. As I said before she went twenty years after her actions with the SLA without any kind of crime, let alone a violent, terroristic one so lets not start comparing her to Osama.

Her time behind bars for the death of an innocent bystander will only be fair when law enforcement is held to the same standard. There's no denying what she did was wrong, she plead guilty. Sending her back to jail after letting her out seems a bit cruel and unusual, even for an enemy of the state–which is how she was portrayed.
Is it too difficult to acknowledge, that however cowardly her running from prosecution may have been, that she has grown as a person?
There seems to be an air of self-righteousness that grows with this topic. Have you all never done something wrong in your past that you hope never caught up to you???

She pleaded guilty and then recanted her plea. She served 1/2 the time. Still doesn't mean she has taken responsibilty for her crimes & still doesn't mean she's not a threat to society. Wonder what else she's hiding...... she's an actress... Oh to Jack from Minneapolis..... She is actually well respected by very few people here. Come down off Mt Curve

Reading this article and the comments find a witch burning contest which is an abomination as I thought we were civil adults but on this finding we are not. We do have a system in place and people who have committed worse crimes are freed. The mistake done that released her was done as she breathed free air she was taken in again. Her fascist comment well we do fight for our rights as most do not read and know their Civic, Human and ADA Rights are oppressed on a daily basis. Don’t know how on earth you are going to stand up for yourself as systems will over run you, but will stand up for rights then cower in the corner as finding the system wants you to forget your rights. SLA was a homeland terrorist group that was/is bad but we have other homeland terrorist group’s wonder why. Fire and death will not solve the problem, being grown up thinking with rationality will. Was told I have no rights and don’t own my body by an Alaska state office so letting disability rights know. Not breaking the law to make a stupid stand that is done by irrational people who have failed to think. Lesson of the damage has been learned so why release her then rearrest her for a poor clerical error that was a lesson teaching badly the world of us in a very bad light.

I am the mother of a murder victim. The killer got a slap on the wrist, was released early, and is now walking the streets. It feels BAD. Murder is not ok. Never under any circumstances.

If this woman was mistakenly released she absolutely should be sent back to finish her time. The life she took is worth at least that much. Otherwise why bother raising children to be law abiding, let's all go wild on the streets, do whatever comes to mind, nothing bad will happen, right?

First, I am agree that what is the deal with a policemans life being more important that anyone else's. The police are human let's treat them as such. The cop wasn't even killed get ovet it, fake pretentious cop lovers.

Secondly, please study the SLA a bit find out exactly what happened. I would bet most of the writers couldn't tell me what SLA stands for.

Thirdly, face it, the US is becoming facist because of all the right wingers that we have in this forum and the republican do-rite rule the world Bush crowd.

Our freedoms are getting less every day in the US. What is not taxed to death because the government does not like our so called choices, they make illegal. We incarcerate more people than most other countries. Yes, some crimes deserve this, But how many are just petty. She did her time and they should not have been allowed to put her back i prison. Who's really saying the first calculation was wrong? How do we know which one is right now? are we supposed to just believe every official in the government?

If you go back into the history of the times you will find that it was the cops that were the terrorists, and should have been dealt with accordingly. She was a patriot, and has been treated as many patriots are treated by governments, the US included.

She did a horrible thing. But she was let out of prison. The only reason they put her back into prison was because a subset of people complained long and loud enough that folks listened.

She may not have "done her time", but she did the time that was calculated for her at the time she was sentenced. It's not right to release someone and stop them at the airport as they're attempting to go home only to tell them they still have more time to serve. That's cruel and unusual punishment.. you might as well be there yelling PSYCH!

A mistake was made, but I think it was compounded by re-incarcerating her. All I can say is that they should check their calculations before they start the process to release someone. Once released, they should be free.

People change over time. She was 20 years old. We all did stupid things at 20 years old. I think what we need to hear and know is how she has changed and if she believes what she did was wrong. At some point, everyone who has committed a crime, must face the music and commit their lives to God. Forgiveness must prevail as anger never accomplishes anything. She has faced a lifetime of punishment already and so has her family. Is continued jail time the right punishment? I don't believe it is. She will continue to endure pain anyway. She has already done so, by not confessing years ago. Do you think jail time will inflict further pain–I doubt it. Her life and that of her family, is already mired in the consequences of her actions. She doesn't appear to be a repeat offender. Perhaps she has a renewed respect of the laws of our society and the people who serve to uphold those? That's what we need to hear in order to heal.