County Exec Urges Residents to Contact Parole Board on Judith Clark Decision

NYACK, NY - Rockland County Executive Ed Day reminds residents that Judith Clark, convicted in the deadly Brinks robbery in 1981, will soon appear before the state Board of Parole.

"Time is running out to make your thoughts known the Parole Board," he said. "If you want to let the state know how you feel about Judith Clark possibly being set free, now is the time to act."

He thanked 10,000 residents from Rockland and across the nation who signed petitions opposing her release that were delivered Wednesday to the state Board of Parole by state Senator Patrick Gallivan, R-Erie County.

The County Executive, a former Lieutenant Commander in the New York Police Department and chief of Detectives in Baltimore, has called for the state to reject Clark's application for parole.

In a press release, he also criticized Gov. Andrew Cuomo, saying that the governor had granted clemency to Clark. In fact, the governor rejected Clark's request for clemency.

However, Cuomo did commute her sentence, meaning that she could appear before a parole board by 2017. Under her sentence, she was not eligible for parole for another 39 years.

Clark has served over 35 years of her 75 years to life sentence. On Oct. 14, 1983, she was convicted of Murder in the Second Degree and Robbery in the First Degree. Clark, who appeared pro se at her trial, received one of the longest sentences of her six co-defendants, the majority of whom are either deceased or no longer in custody.

She received the same sentence as one of the known shooters, the governor's office said. Her only female co-defendant, Kathy Boudin, whose participation in the underlying crime was similar to Clark’s, received a 20-year minimum sentence and was paroled in 2003, and then discharged from parole supervision in 2010.

SEE ALSO:

• Domestic Terrorist's Sentence Commuted: Cuomo
• Cuomo Denies Clemency Petition for Brinks Robbery

Day led a rally in January on the steps of the Old Rockland Courthouse opposing her release.

"Judith Clark willingly participated in the cold-blooded murder of three members of law enforcement in Rockland County," he said. "She stood trial under our system of justice where a jury of her peers convicted her. A judge found there was no reason to think she could ever be rehabilitated and sentenced her to 75 years to life in prison. Prison is where she belongs. Judith Clark does not deserve to see the light of day. The only place for Judith Clark in a civilized society is behind bars."

Clark took part in the botched 1981 robbery at the Nanuet Mall that left a Brinks guard, Peter Paige, and two members of the Nyack Police Department dead. Nyack Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown were fatally shot dead at a roadblock on the state Thruway following the robbery.

The state Parole Board has not said when it will consider Clark's case. It is expected to be next week.

Day urged residents to send correspondence to the state at: Supervising Offender Rehabilitation Coordinator, Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, 247 Harris Road, Bedford Hills, New York 10507-2400, Re: Judith ClarkDIN 83G0313; or via email at http://www.doccs.ny.gov/letters.html