The impact of the parole ban
With much being said of Governor Rell’s ban on parole in the last few days (and most of it favorable), it must be pointed out what the impact of such a ban shall be. Here’s a story on just that. The highlights:
The Board of Pardons and Paroles is reviewing the cases of 400 to 600 inmates who were scheduled for release on parole.
These are inmates who were already granted parole (and some, it is safe to say, in the last few months), so now they have to be housed again and perhaps there is a legal challenge here. While there is no liberty interest in parole, there is a liberty interest in parole revocation. Canceling parole after granting it would be akin to a revocation of parole.
The Department of Correction is reviewing the files of 1,200 level one inmates to identify non-violent offenders to release to halfway houses to open bed space for violent offenders.
So now you have a number of inmates who will be rushed through parole to make room for those who have been granted it, but will not be released. Good for the 1,200, but is it really good for safety?
Rell said that there are no current or expected plans to build new or expand the state’s current prisons.
Ah, of course. Because Connecticut’s prisons are underpopulated and there are plenty of empty beds.
Lawlor said if violent offenders can’t receive parole, the state’s prison population will only grow more.
There are more than 19,000 inmates in Connecticut’s prisons, originally designed to house 17,000. Lawlor said that the federal courts could order a mass release.
Oh wait, so you mean there is a prison overcrowding problem? The best way to solve that is to ban parole for all violent offenders. No, it isn’t? Hmm.
East Haven Rep. Michael Lawlor, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said the state’s prison population has grown by 280 inmates since the July 23 Cheshire home invasion, in which a mother and her two daughters were killed.
This number will only continue to grow. Estimates put the projected increase at 1,500 over the next year. I guess I can safely delete these posts.
Of course, there are the “in the trenches” consequences:
Judges are setting higher bond for burglars and other criminals; defendants are receiving longer sentences; and the Board of Pardons and Paroles is more conservative about who gets parole.
In case we’ve all forgotten, here’s a reminder from a previous post, quoting the Office of Policy and Management’s “Comprehensive Plan For the Connecticut Criminal Justice System 2007 [pdf]“:
- Not shockingly, inmates released from prison with no community supervision were most likely to be reconvicted and resentenced to prison for a new offense.
The Governor, not surprisingly, has declined to appear before the judiciary committee to discuss her “ban”.
While the calls for three-strikes laws and stricter sentences were questionably wrong, this ban on parole is unquestionably knee-jerk and almost certainly illegal.
Serenity now….serenity now.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Gideon on September 24, 2007 at 6:22 pm, and is filed under cheshire, ct legal news, prison overcrowding. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 4 years ago
I’m personally surprised at the quick decision made by Governor Rell’s ban on parole. No thought went into her order or of the domino effect that this will have starting from the top to the bottom of the justice system. Everyone who will stand in front of a Judge better have the best lawyer they can afford. I have a 23-year-old son who has been in the system for almost a year now. When he was sentenced it was with the knowledge that he would need to do 85% of his time, now the governor is putting it to 100%. I feel that this is very unfair and I am willing to get a lawyer to fight on my son’s behalf. I know that the governor’s decision mainly came from her heart as a woman and the outpour of pain and loud voices from the citizens of Cheshire Ct. and not with a clear understanding of the law. I know what took place in Cheshire was a terrible and unthinkable crime, and my prayers went out to the family. But now I am ready to cry out for my own son and my cry is fairness.
about 4 years ago
I can feel your pain. I have a nephew in cheshire corrections dept. This law is effecting my love one also. He has been charged for a crime he did not commit, because anyone in connecticut can tell the police you did something and they believe it. Connecticut justice system believes in there police force even though they may get false statement. that cheshire killing are getting so much attention in the killings that happen. But I have lived in hartford all my life and alot of people more than 3 have been killed, and no one have done anything about. There have been so much killing in New Haven and around the state why haven’t the governor stepped in like she stepped the cheshire killing why?
about 4 years ago
What powers does the governor have over the Board of Pardons and Paroles? Who makes the final decision over how long this ban can last? Who can override her ban? Who can we write to in order to get a quick resoluation to this parole ban? You stated that December is the timeline anticipated for recommendations from the task force convened to address issues around parole. What is the next step after that? Will they start releasing inmates at that time? Are they reviewing files of inmates who already have a parole date first? Can a decision be made right away once a file is reviewed and does the parole officer in charge have any authority to get a prompt release?
about 4 years ago
This is so frustrating! My fiancee is currently in prison in CT and the news of this parole ban has been devastating. We have waited a long time to continue our life together and now this. Obviously this was a rash decision by the governor, making a sweeping gesture like this that affects so many that are poised to re-enter the community as law abiding citizens. How long can this decision be sustained? And how much better off will we all be, once the wheels of fairness are finally turning again, that we had the ban in the first place? It is my sincere hope that the selection and review process of the parole board members will be done expeditiously. We have already waited long enough.
about 4 years ago
i have e-mailed Governor Rell three times and i did get a reply from two of them, her staff assistant jeff litke e-mailed me back sending me a copy of what i already knew,, then said if i had furture questions i could call the board of pardons and paroles. He also stated to not hesitated to contact there office. But he hasn’t answered my last e-mail and i think it because i wasn’t as pleasant with my words.Maybe if a lot of people start writting her and speaking out loud like the people in Cheshire we can make a change to! I read the paper every day to stay upfront and find out all i can.I am also going to an open forum focuse on the three-strikes law that is trying to be passed in Connecticut,at Quinnipiac Universiyt on Monday October 15th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm,i’m hoping to get a chance to speak about the banning of parole. This session is open to the public no charge.
about 4 years ago
This is an outrage! I am alarmed at the amount of time that this ban will has been in affect. My fiancee’ is also living in one of the worse halfway houses in NH Ct. He is working 2 jobs, proving himself to be rehabilitated citizen, living drug free, compliant with all rules and regulations & stipulations. He cannot breathe, he only has permission to go to work and return within a set limitation. He was scheduled to be paroled on today, Nov. 16th, his paperwork has yet to be reviewed, as the sponsor, I have yet to be contacted by the parole board for a home inspection. I feel that this frustration is what provokes people as caged animals, what choices does one have? Yes there were offenses, yes the Cheshire crime does mean a lot to the community as a whole, but what about the inmate that has learned and is willing and able as a productive participant in society? One that has served their time and doing what is neccessary in the community? Where do we go to get Gov. Rell to release the ban? To cry out & request, to reconsider the families of the people that are in the syestem? This is an outrage, and something needs to be done! Right away!
about 4 years ago
I am still waiting,wishing i could do more right now the only thing i seem to be able to do is pray. But there is one attorney that seem to be on our side and his name is Norman Pattis who is a attorney here in ct. I listen to him speak durning a hearing held at the Quinnipace University and he is working to make sure that when these new changes in the current laws are change he will be there to speak of behalf of those who cann’t. With the parole i know he is 100% against what gov.rell is doing. There will be light at the edge of the tunnel this is what i tell my son. I am ready to take a stand anytime or place in the name of fairness.
about 4 years ago
I have also written to Rells office and their reply was to contact Board of Pardons & Parole. I have been calling them since October and in the beginning I was able to speak with someone and he told me that until they get the PSI report on my husbands original case(which by the way was 34 years ago), that he could not be released. He said once they received it, it would be reviewed and a decision would be made. This was ordered on October 21st. I made some calls myself and was told that they would not have his PSI report because it was too many years ago and that Pardons & Parole would of been notified within 3 days of their request. Since then I have been trying to reach Mr. DeFeo at the Board of Pardons and Parole and he will not return any of my calls. Is this because he lied to me? I am beginning to wonder if I can trust anything they say. It is now December 17th and I still have not received word on anything. I thing everyone should write to Robert Farr (Head of Pardons & Parole)to see if at least we can get some honest answers from him. I have run out of options myself and the stress of not knowing anything is really taking a toll on me. Does anyone have any suggestions or input?