Charles Manson Parole Hearing Charles Manson faces the parole board, again (Court TV) -- Charles Manson, 62, faced his 9th parole hearing March 27, 1997 after serving 26 years of a life sentence for the Helter Skelter bloodshed he ordered during the summer of 1969. Since his last parole hearing in 1992, Manson accrued 13 new violations. He is serving his sentence at Corcoran State Prison in Central California for ordering the 1969 killing spree that left seven people dead, including actress/model Sharon Tate, and for the less notorious murders of Gary Hinman and Donald Shea. In April 1971, Manson was sentenced to die for the Sharon Tate and Rosemary LaBianca murders. His time on death row was cut short, however, when the California Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional in 1972. Manson and cohorts received life sentences with scheduled parole hearings every five years after the first seven. Manson's most recent bid for parole was televised live by Court TV in April 1992. If Manson were convicted of these crimes today, the minimum sentence he could receive would be life without the possibility of parole. The State was represented by prosecutor Stephen Kay, one of the original prosecutors at the Manson trial. Kay has attended all 51 parole hearings of the Manson Family members. This hearing was Kay's 52nd. Not only has the heinous nature of Manson's murders made his chances of ever leaving prison very slim, but his behavior behind bars has made it impossible. According to Kay, Manson has committed 13 serious violations since his 1992 parole hearing. Kay also has a psychiatric report that says Manson is a sociopath and a serious threat to society. Manson collected his 13 violations by threatening to murder a peace officer, threatening staff members, illegally possessing a stabbing instrument and narcotics, and assaulting a staff member. Through the years, he has also been known to spit, hit and pour hot coffee on prison guards. At his last parole hearing, Manson rambled on about society, race and the Beatles. He claimed that he didn't understand the insecurities of those around him and expressed no remorse for the lives lost. As Manson supporters are always eager to point out, Manson did not kill anyone at the Tate and LaBianca residences. However, Manson ordered Tex Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel and Susan Atkins to kill everyone at the Tate residence. The following night, Manson tied up Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, left their house and ordered Watson, Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten to go in and kill the couple. Manson cut off Gary Hinman's ear with a sword while demanding Hinman's inheritance a few days before Hinman was killed. He also delivered some of the fatal stab wounds to ranch-hand Donald "Shorty" Shea. Manson stays in the Protective Housing Unit (PHU) at Corcoran, a special unit to keep notorious inmates like Manson away from the general population. At Corcoran, Manson stays in a 6 X 11 cell with a TV, radio, sink, toilet and desk. Manson does not currently work; however he has worked as a janitor at Corcoran. He exercises, receives visitors and receives letters from all over the world. Manson served time at San Quentin before being moved to Corcoran in 1989. Over his last 26 years of imprisonment, Manson has also stayed at Folsom State Prison and the California Medical Facility. --Kathryn Rubenstein Reported by Court TV's Sharon Beaulaurier. top of page