Anne Pollard Denied Early Parole, Unlikely to Be Released on Furlough

In a double blow to her hopes of leaving prison, Anne Henderson Pollard, wife of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard was denied early release on parole last week, and although she is officially eligible for furloughs, was told she will not be released for the High Holy Days.

According to Pollard’s sister-in-law, Carol Pollard, these recent developments have been highly demoralizing for Anne Pollard, who is in extremely poor health.

Anne Pollard is currently an inmate at the Danbury Federal Prison Camp. She has been serving time since March 4, 1987, for possession of classified documents in connection with her husband’s case. Jonathan Pollard is serving a life sentence for spying for Israel.

Anne Pollard’s hopes were raised on Aug. 3, when her status at the minimum-security prison was upgraded to “community custody.” This meant she became officially eligible for either day-long furloughs or overnight furloughs that last up to seven days. She also became eligible for placement in a halfway house.

Prison authorities reportedly immediately ruled out the option of a halfway house for Pollard, because of her medical condition. She suffers from biliary dyskinesia, a rare gastrointestinal disease.

Carol Pollard said her sister-in-law is caught in a paradoxical situation. “She’s fit enough to stay in prison, but she can’t get out, because she’s too sick,” she said.

She and other family members have contended for several years that Anne Pollard has been denied medication for her condition and has not received adequate medical care.

ASKED WHETHER SHE WAS REALLY JEWISH

Carol Pollard claims that the fact that prison authorities have “screwed up on her treatment,” is one reason they do not want her sister-in-law released, even for short periods of time.

“She has a lot to say, and it’s better for them if she doesn’t say it,” Pollard said.

Last week, Anne Pollard faced the regional parole board, which after brief deliberations, recommended against her release.

According to her sister-in-law, she was asked in the course of the Aug. 22 parole hearing whether she was planning on divorcing Jonathan Pollard and was also asked “whether she was indeed Jewish.”

The final word on the parole hearing is expected in two weeks, from Daniel Lopez, the regional prison commissioner. Pollard’s relatives have begun a letter-writing campaign to try to influence Lopez to grant parole to Anne Pollard.

But according to Cathleen Pinner, a spokes-woman for the commissioner, the chances of Lopez reversing the parole board’s decision are slim. The commissioner, Pinner said, “generally agrees with the recommendation of the panel.”

Pollard would not be eligible for parole until March 31, three years after her sentence began.

Pollard’s family members fear for her health in the meantime.

Carol Pollard said her sister-in-law is in bed 80 percent of the time and weighs 86 pounds. “My arm is bigger than her leg,” she said. “She’s going to die, I think.”