BP MARKOWITZ STATEMENT ON THE PAROLE OF CHARLES FRIEDGOOD, NEW YORK STATE’S OLDEST INMATE

“In no way should we minimize the gravity of the crimes for which Mr. Friedgood was convicted, and he deserved the punishment handed out by our courts. However, is it in the best interest of the public to keep a terminally ill, 89-year-old man behind bars, at a tremendous cost to taxpayers, when he has already served 30 years and it’s been determined he poses no danger to society? The members of the Parole Board had the facts before them, and presumably made a decision they felt was in the best interest of society at large.”