Charles Manson and His Familys Murders - Essay Example

Little mention is made of Doris Tate or Pattie Tate. However, these two women have become victim rights advocates for their daughter and sister respectively. Sharon Tate’s family has done everything in their power to keep the individuals convicted in the Manson murders behind bars. Their efforts have paid off, even after their deaths. Patti created the Tate Foundation after her mother’s death. After Pattie died, Debra Tate continued the Tate Foundation. Although this group has made major changes in California laws concerning victims’ rights, Mason and his followers still seem to be a more popular story.

Manson and his followers were given life sentences with the possibility of parole. When Van Houten came up for parole first, Doris Tate was incensed. She petitioned the California legislators to allow victim impact statements. Before this law was passed, victims’ families could not speak during a parole hearing. This law that Doris lobbied forgave the victims’ families an opportunity to relate how the crimes impacted their families.

While alive, Doris attended every parole hearing for Charles Manson, Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel, Susan Atkins, and Charles ‘Tex’ Watson. As a result, all of them are still in jail with the exception of Susan Atkins. Susan Atkins died of cancer. Even when asking for a compassionate release because cancer took both her legs, the parole board denied Atkins’ request. The Tate Foundation felt that Atkins had not shown Sharon mercy as she begged for the life of her child, so the courts should not show mercy to her.

Although the media almost glorifies or vilifies the Manson family, the real story should be about the victims and their families. The Tates could have wallowed in their sorrow and given up. By creating the Tate Foundation, the Tates fought back against violent crime and advocated victims’ rights. That should be the story retold in the media. If Charles Manson and his family are evil, then the Tates proved that good can triumph over evil.

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