Leslie Van Houten was released from prison Tuesday, something I never believed would happen. Not because it shouldn’t, but because it has always seemed to be political suicide to allow it. Part of the notorious Manson “family,” she was serving a life sentence for murdering Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in 1969. She’d been recommended for parole five times before her release. Each time, the recommendation was reversed by either Gov. Jerry Brown or Gov. Gavin Newsom. However, earlier this month Newsom did not challenge an appellate court’s decision to allow parole.
I worked with Leslie for close to 10 years. I taught English at the Chino prison where she was incarcerated through a program at the community college where I work. Leslie was a tutor with whom I worked closely during that time, and she has supported incarcerated women’s education for decades.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I met her. She was wildly intelligent, kind, soft-spoken and tiny. It was difficult to reconcile the woman in front of me with the crimes she had committed. She has a master’s degree in philosophy and was revered by the women whom she tutored. At prison graduations, cheers recognizing her work were always the loudest.
