Parole or not to Parole

I read an article tonight about two convicted killers of police officers in NY. The killings occurred in 1971 and three men were convicted in 1975. One gentlemen passed in jail the other two are up for parole again in a few months. Both of the two living men have been model prisoners who have earned degree's and one of the dead mans children is supporting parole. However the men have considered themselves political prisoners all of this time bc they were part of the Black Liberation Army.

This got me to thinking about parole for violent offenders. While these men say they are changed men with a low likelihood of repeating and going back to jail, do they deserve to be allowed to live their lives when they took the lives of two men? From what the article says the police officers were ambushed when responding to a call. From the article I cannot discern any motive behind the killings. I understand that they have reformed their lives but is that enough to allow them a second chance when they took two men's lives? My initial reaction is no, they do not deserve that second chance. They may have changed and grown up in jail but so what? They still need to pay for the crimes of their younger selves.

Then I started thinking about all the money it costs to house prisoners especially as they are aging. Maybe they should be paroled so they start to pay for their own way in lives. Maybe they would be able to continue to do the work they started in prison with young people and the less fortunate. Maybe they would be able to talk to schools about their experience and try to reach kids before they go down the wrong path.

Then I wonder are they really sorry or just trying to work the system to get out of jail? I know I am cynic and I am not going to be able to decide my position on this hot button issue tonight as I am very sleepy but I thought it was worth putting out here.