'She called me a name that I didn't like': Remorse, responsibility and rehabilitation in Winston Moseley's parole hearings.

The article analyzes the parole hearing transcripts of Winston Moseley, a long-serving New York inmate convicted of the 1964 rape and murder of Catherine "Kitty" Genovese, focusing on how he expresses remorse, responsibility, and portrays rehabilitation. Using systemic functional linguistics, the study finds that Moseley frequently hedges or mitigates responsibility for his crimes, sometimes blaming others or the victim, and his expressions of remorse and apologies are often indirect or qualified, raising questions about their sincerity. While Moseley emphasizes personal change and participation in rehabilitation programs, his reluctance to fully accept responsibility and engage in psychiatric therapy contrasts with parole board expectations. The findings highlight the complex discursive nature of parole hearings, where linguistic strategies significantly impact perceptions of an inmate's rehabilitation and suitability for release.