Parole board to weigh release of 1970 St. Paul cop killer
The Minnesota Supervised Release Board will consider parole for Ronald Reed on Tuesday, Aug. 11 in St. Paul, over the 1970 killing of Officer James Sackett.[1]
The hearing will be Reed's fourth parole bid and the five-member Supervised Release Board includes Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell.[1] Reed was sentenced under 1970 rules that made him eligible after 17 years rather than a no-parole life term.[1] The board must weigh 12 statutory factors, including Reed's prison behavior, rehabilitation and the Sackett family's opposition, and it is expected to issue a decision the same day.[1]
Officer James Sackett was killed in 1970 and Reed was convicted for that slaying.[1] Because sentencing followed the laws then in effect, Reed became parole-eligible after 17 years rather than facing a mandatory no-parole life term.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Ronald Reed, convicted in the 1970 killing of St. Paul officer James Sackett, has a parole hearing set for Tuesday, Aug. 11, his fourth.
- Reed was sentenced under 1970 guidelines that made him eligible for parole after 17 years, not a no-parole life term.
- The five-member Supervised Release Board, including Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell, must consider 12 statutory factors, including Reed’s prison behavior, rehabilitation, and the Sackett family’s opposition, and is expected to decide the same day.
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