Current Clients in Need of Support

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The following women have been found suitable for parole by the California Board of Parole Hearings (BPH), and are awaiting a decision from Governor Brown regarding this suitability determination. Please read their stories, share them with friends, colleagues, or other interested parties (click here to share), tweet @Brown (click here to use Twitter), and email the Governor under the subject matter, "Parole Issues/Concerns" (click here to email the Governor).

Martina Olea, W# 26253

After serving nearly 26 years in prison on a 15 years to life sentence, Martina Olea, a client of the Post-Conviction Justice Project since 1999, was released from prison and reunited with her family in Mexico.  

Ms. Olea, a migrant worker with a long history of abuse at the hands of her parents and then her husband, has been found suitable for parole six times in the last eight years. Governors Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger reversed the first five parole grants based on little more than the nature of the commitment offense.  In February 2011, Governor Jerry Brown allowed the California Board of Parole Hearings’ sixth finding of suitability to stand.

During her incarceration at the California Institution for Women, Ms. Olea built an exemplary and inspiring record of self-improvement, gaining insight into the causative factors of her crime, including her issues with a lifetime of trauma and abuse, as well as her struggle with alcoholism. She was also an active member of Convicted Women Against Abuse, a support group for women whose crimes stemmed from abuse, and earned her high school diploma in 2010. 

Upon release, Ms. Olea will return to Tijuana where she will be reunited with friends and family, including her sons.  Ms. Olea plans to use her understanding of codependency and alcoholism to counsel others in her community who struggle with the same issues.  She has multiple job offers and looks forward to rejoining society as a productive member.

Marisol Garcia, W# 56974

Raised by alcoholic parents in Tijuana where she was forced to work from the age of seven and severely beaten if she returned home empty-handed at the end of the day, Marisol Garcia became a trafficking victim at the age of 13.  Her trafficker sold her for the price of her $200 smuggling fee to a man who drugged her, raped her, and informed her she belonged to him.  From the age of 13 until her incarceration for the commitment offense at 19, she suffered daily beatings and sadistic sexual abuse by the man, Rafael Martinez.  Martinez’s abuse caused her to miscarry a pregnancy at age 15.  He terrorized her with threats to kill her, her family, and their young son.  She was completely isolated and dependent on him for her survival. 

Marisol has served 17 years of a 25 years-to-life sentence for the crimes of Rafael Martinez.  In June of 1993, Martinez and Fernando Pereda, who lived together in a migrant worker camp outside San Diego, shot and killed a man to steal his beer.  Per Martinez’s instructions, Marisol stood lookout.  A jury acquitted her of this murder.  Two weeks later, Martinez shot and killed Pereda to prevent him from going to authorities about the earlier murder.  Martinez forced Marisol – then eight months pregnant – to bury Pereda’s body.  Marisol’s participation in both crimes was predicated on Martinez’s threats -- which she knew from experience would lead to very serious abuse -- against her, her young son, and her unborn child.  No evidence of trafficking or abuse was introduced at the trial, and the jury convicted her for her role in the murder of Pereda.

Although Marisol entered prison damaged from a lifetime of unspeakable abuse with almost no formal education, she has built an exemplary institutional record.  She is fluent in English and is enrolled in Adult Basic Education classes, working toward a Graduate Equivalency Degree.  She has given back to her community through volunteer activities -- participating in a group that teaches Mexican culture and provides assistance to economically disadvantaged families and serving as an aerobics instructor for other inmates.  She has spoken candidly with psychologists and the Board of Parole Hearings about her history of abuse and her participation in the crime, and they believe that she possesses the insight and maturity to avoid abusive relationships in the future. 

The Board of Parole Hearings found Marisol suitable for parole at her initial parole hearing on March 10, 2010, but Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger unfortunately reversed the grant of parole, relying solely on two inconsistent statements Marisol gave at the time of her arrest. On March 7, 2011, a different panel of the Board again found Marisol suitable for parole, concluding that she was credible, deeply insightful, and mature.

Governor Jerry Brown has until August 4, 2011 to decide whether to allow the Board¹s grant of parole to stand.  Please email the Governor telling him you support Marisol¹s release and trust the Board¹s ability to make the best determination about who is suitable for parole.    

***Click here to see Marisol's Facebook page!
***Click here to sign the online petition to free Marisol.

Norma Cumpian, W# 51648

Norma Cumpian, a 40-year-old survivor of domestic violence, has spent most of her adult life behind bars. At the age of 22, fearing for her own life and the life of her unborn child, Norma shot and killed her abusive, drug-dealing boyfriend. During her trial, domestic violence experts testified that battering and its effects were a critical component of Norma's decision to fire the warning shot that caused her boyfriend's death. The last two Board of Parole Hearings panels agreed that domestic violence contributed directly to Norma's commitment offense. However, due in part to the relatively limited understanding of the effects of Battered Women's Syndrome at the time of her trial in 1992, a jury convicted Norma of second degree murder. She has served 18 years of a 15 years-to-life sentence. At her most recent parole hearing, the Parole Board recognized that Norma has accepted full responsibility and demonstrated genuine remorse for her crime. The Board also found that Norma has been a model of rehabilitation, using her time in prison to better herself and those around her. Norma recently obtained her Associate's degree (graduating as valedictorian of her class) and has completed multiple vocational programs. She has given much back to her community through her work as a peer counselor in the mental health department, her service as Chairperson of Convicted Women Against Abuse from 2000-2004, and successful training of service dogs for disabled Americans. Norma also has an exemplary disciplinary record; numerous prison supervisors have praised her hard work and dedication to her various volunteer and work assignments at the California Institution for Women. The Board's own psychologists agree that Norma has developed into a dependable, insightful woman and predict an exceedingly low risk of recidivism upon her release. Norma has solid parole plans--confirmed residence at a transitional sober-living program and a variety of job offers--upon her release. She has strong support from friends and family. Upon her release, Norma plans to pursue her Bachelor's degree and reunite with her son. (Click here to watch a video of Norma taken from footage for the documentary "Sin-by-Silence.") On March 11, 2010, the Board found Norma suitable for release and granted her parole for the second consecutive year. Governor Schwarzenegger has until August 9, 2010 to make his decision whether to allow the Board's grant of parole to stand.

Please contact the Governor to express your support for Norma's release. Tell him you trust the parole board to make the best determination about who is suitable for parole, and help Norma reunite with her son.

*** Visit the "Free Norma Cumpian" page on Facebook

*** Sign the online petition to free Norma Cumpian

*** Click here to download a letter to mail to the Governor's legal staff