I always thought it very sad that such young people were sucked into all of this and wasted their lives but then I think about the victims and their families. The deaths must have been horrifying and terrifying and if it had been a member of my family I would still be worrying about how much they must have suffered. Family members of the victims fight against parole and I don't blame them.

Charles Manson doesn't expect to get out of prison ever. Amongst other things Charles Watson has managed to get married, divorced and have four children whilst in prison. No doubt Leslie Van Houten would be a perfect citizen if she was released. Susan Atkins was said to have had only six months to live last year. Her medical care costs a lot of money and I suppose that one advantage of releasing her now would presumably be that her family would have to fund this?