Parole Reform Measures Now In Effect In South Carolina Wednesday July 28, 2004 6:55pm    Posted By: Gia McKenzie Are you going to go see 'Fahrenheit 9/11?'  Yes  No ___  ABC News 4 Interact  ___    • Signup for eNews Alerts    • ABC News 4 Pulse Poll    • Whats Your Opinion?    • Printable Version    • E-Mail This Story Charleston, SC - Governor Mark Sanford (website - news) Wednesday held a signing ceremony for a bill that makes it easier for victims of violent crime to give testimony at parole hearings. The bill requires parole hearings be held the same day if there is more than one perpetrator convicted of a crime against the same victim. It also will allow victims to provide testimony over closeDCircuit television. Sanford officially signed the bill last month. Joanna Katz says the new law would have eliminated some of the many trips she has made to Columbia to testify at separate hearings for five men who raped, beat and tortured her 16 years ago. The men were convicted and sentenced to serve up to 35 years in prison. Katz' story was chronicled earlier this year in the documentary film Sentencing the Victim. » Find More Articles Related To This One Copyright 2004 WCIV, LLC.

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