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Parole Board Changes Way It Interviews Death Row Inmates Seeking Clemency

The Ohio Parole Board has changed its approach to interviewing death row inmates seeking clemency in a move that addresses a longtime criticism of the process. 

Under the old approach, board members would conduct interviews armed only with court records about the icase and the inmate's disciplinary record while imprisoned. Under the new system, board members will have the inmate's application, including information about upbringing, mental health history, and rehabilitation while on death row. David Stebbins is a federal public defender overseeing capital punishment cases. He says the goal is to provide the board with a more complete picture of the inmate before the interview. The Ohio Attorney General's Office and the state public defender's office back the changes.

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