Comments on: Breaking News: Gov. Rell bans parole for all violent offenders

By: Ember

Ember — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:51:13 +0000

I am very upset by this recent ban of parole by Connecticut’s governor. Instead of having the Department of Corrections and the Board of Pardons and Parole be more accountable for the problems in the system, it seems they are instead holding all inmates accountable. The system is flawed, no doubt, but punishing the masses for the crimes of a few is no solution. Perhaps if more resources and services were available to inmates upon release, truly successful reintegration could occur. To take away the possibility of parole from the many men and women in Connecticut’s prisons who have been working towards changing things for themselves is to take away their hope.

Does anyone know of any advocacy groups taking on this issue?

By: Johanna Ruckey

Johanna Ruckey — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:16:03 +0000

What really gets me is that Gov. Rell will not let any parolees with violent histories into the school system. How are the prisoners supposed to assimilate back into society and become productive citizens if she takes away any chance of education from them? If she’s concerned about letting criminals loose into the public, shouldn’t she be pushing to educate them?

By: Ilah

Ilah — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:19:32 +0000

[quote post="788"]“The vast majority of people understand that criminals, as a class, are dangerous, and that having them on the streets threatens us.”[/quote]

And the vast majority of people are woefully under-educated on the matter.

The vast majority of people who ARE educated on the matter can demonstrate with solid data that those who are released with supervision and re-entry options are less likely to create a new victim than those who are released without supervision and re-entry options.

What you are advocating, and what the Gov has decided to do, undermines public safety and will increase the number of future victims of crime. Perhaps you didn’t know that, but I’m certain at least one person in the Governor’s circle of association might have mentioned it at some point.

By: Scott Greenfield

Scott Greenfield — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 14:20:28 +0000

Got it. So this is the post-Chesire political pandering to show that the problem is parole and they’re going to fix it by eliminating parole. The silver bullet fix to end all crime and make everyone safe.

Is it just me, or does anyone else here the name “Willie Horton” ringing in their ears?

By: Gideon

Gideon — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 12:37:38 +0000

I can tell you why this is happening, not under what authority.

Back in June (July?), two parolees went into an affluent white neighborhood and killed a mother and two daughters. There was uproar in the State. Excuses were made, scapegoats were found. Politicians have been bellowing since then and the state’s criminal system needs a fix.

Since then, every time a parolee has committed a crime, the press has made it front page news and tied it in with Cheshire.

I guess yesterday, when a parolee stole a car and then got shot in NY, was the last straw.

So now, no parole for you!

I don’t know if it is legal or how long it will last.

To get the full sense of the timeline of events, click on the Cheshire category.

By: Scott Greenfield

Scott Greenfield — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 10:24:56 +0000

Gid,

I’m not clear why Rell has done this, or under what authority the Gov can simply suspend the law and ban parole. Can you tell a dumb old New Yorker why this is happening?

By: SPO

SPO — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 02:27:31 +0000

The Governor is making a decision about public safety. All of your snarking is just that, snark. The vast majority of people understand that criminals, as a class, are dangerous, and that having them on the streets threatens us. Rell is simply using a heinous crime to highlight these threats in order to make a positive change for public safety. Good for her. She may be saving your life.

By: Gideon

Gideon — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 02:06:26 +0000

Well, no, duh! The next step is life without parole for all violent offenders. Just keep building more prisons and sending more people to jail!

Then we all know that drug users and dealers use guns, so they’re violent too, so they get locked up for life.

By: Woman in Black

Woman in Black — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 01:48:39 +0000

Holy heartbreak, batman. That is pretty nuts.

So, your gov. wants violent offenders to kill their numbers and be released to the streets with no supervision? That’s gonna work out great.