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U.S. | 'I comfort death row inmates in their final moments - the execution room is like a house of horrors'

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Reverend Jeff Hood, 40, wants to help condemned inmates 'feel human again' and vows to continue his efforts to befriend murderers in spite of death threats against his family A reverend who has made it his mission to comfort death row inmates in their final days has revealed the '"moral torture" his endeavor entails. Reverend Dr. Jeff Hood, 40, lives with his wife and five children in Little Rock, Arkansas. But away from his normal home life, he can suddenly find himself holding the shoulder of a murderer inside an execution chamber, moments away from the end of their life. 

Gaile Owens granted parole

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Gaile Owens
Gaile Owens will be released on parole after the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole voted to free her after a quarter-century in prison, according to Tennessee Department of Correction records.

Former Gov. Phil Bredesen said Gaile Owens has been given a second chance now that the state has granted her parole.

Bredesen commuted Owens' death sentence to life in prison in July 2010 and today four members of the seven-member Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole agreed she should be released early.

“I certainly hope that she gets her life together now,'' Bredesen said.

Owens' son Stephen Owens said today was a "beautiful day.''

"I am grateful to the parole board for granting parole to my mother, Gaile Owens, after 26 years in prison. One year ago today was the date that Mom was to be executed had Gov. Phil Bredesen not commuted her sentence. I will always be grateful to Gov. Bredesen, to my mother’s legal team, and to the thousands of friends and strangers who have rallied behind my mom and our family,'' Stephen Owens said in a prepared statement released today.

Owens will not be released immediately, said Melissa McDonald, spokeswoman for the parole board.

"The next step in the process is for her release plan to be approved. After that, there is some administrative paper work that must be done. Her release will probably take place in the next 1 to 3 weeks, although I cannot give you an exact date now.


Source: The Tennessean, Sept. 28, 2011

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Location: Tennessee, USA
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