After 32 plus years if these three inmates are found not to be a future threat to society the parole board and the governor need to parole them and begin saving the taxpayers some of the huge, over $10 billion prison system cost. Consider the prison system costs $10 billion, the UC system costs $3.0 billion. Where would you rather look for unnecessary costs? No long rap sheet, one time crime, no deaths or injuries, 32 plus years in prison, no threat to society, time to parole them.

Reverse the decision and keep them in prison until they drop dead. End of story!

Who cares what it costs to keep these guys in prison forever? What they did was deplorable and they should never be released. This "one time crime" permanently scarred a lot of kids and their families.

maybe the reason theydon't have a long rap sheet is that they committed this horrendously dangerous crime when they were young.

Give them time and parole and I'm sure they'll fill it out.

No release for kidnappers that is the most dangerous of crimes.

Nobody died? You idiot! They buried the entire bus. If it were for the grace of god, they all would have died!

Consider that they don't have along rap sheet because they were jailed. I can only imagine how many more crimes might have been added to their 'sheet' if they weren't, so, I suppose jail was a good thing.

And due to our lenient society, they will be released and we play an experiement: Will they re-enter society and become productive or will they work on their rap sheet?

Only time will tell.

I have lived in Pleasanton since 1972, and remember this case very well. In fact, I was stopped on the way to work one morning during the "seige" because I was driving a car similar to one owned by one of the later-convicted men. It was a horrendous crime, that could have ended up so much worse, but for the bravery of the bus driver. Eventually, society should show some lack of vengeance, IF it can be shown that the parolee is no longer a threat to society, and has rehabilitated himself, but only under the strictest of standards and conditions. All three have now lived a lifetime in the prison society and rightly so; are they better or worse for that experience? I will take someone more learned in that area than me to make that decision. // I would like to know how the victims have fared in the intervening years.

I also remember this even very clearly. In fact, my buddy and I were listening to police band radio that night, heard what was going on and told our parents. My Dad and my friend's father drove us out to quarry that night and we saw the bus with the kids pull away. I will never forget the looks on their faces and it really made me think how it would have taken it's toll on me. Parole? No way -- but if they must, I say release them on Main St. in Chowchilla and make sure to let everyone know when it's going to take place.

Well, AV Grad, that IS the best solution to this situation.
Sounds reasonable.

A two person panel??? thats a 50-50 split... That doesn't work! its always an odd number for a tie breaker. supreme court, 5 people.

But anyways. I think he should get death, and a commendation for being good with a shovel. I couldn't bury a buss-load of kids that fast!It would take me days.

That is bull ****, they do not deserve to walk free. Look at their intention when they buried that bus, they wanted those kids to die. The criminals deserve to stay in jail forever. I'd like to meet that 2 person panel.

All of them should have received the death penalty. They buried the bus driver and all of those children with the intent to inflict slow and painful deaths on them all. Let them rot in jail, or, better yet, bury them in a van in a quarry.
Their rap sheets are long, considering how many crimes they committed that day!
Wake up, John. Do you want them next door to you and your children?

They have been model prisoners and did this crime when they were young and dumb. Show an example to other prisoners if you're good you can get out. I think the time they have served is enough and give these guys a chance at some kind of life. Nobody died and I think one of them turned himself in.

Don't treat them like dogs, give them a chance to be productive.

Seriously...now those who commented that they should be released, look now at the Jacee Duggard case! These 3 were not just "young and dumb" as previosly stated, they were calculating, malicious, and evil!! One stricken and you are out! In this case 27!! It's a no brainer, let them rot!