Panel To Examine Big Rise In Release of Violent Felons
A state oversight committee will convene today in Albany to examine what some lawmakers are calling a troubling increase in the number of violent felons being released from state prisons.
The number of criminals convicted of the most violent crimes — A1 offenders — released on parole last year after their initial appearance in front of the New York State Parole Board jumped to at least 40 in 2007 from 10 in 2005, according state parole statistics. The figure has risen despite the number of prisoners appearing in front of the board staying roughly the same.
"We'll try to find out what's transpiring and what types of people are being paroled," a state senator who represents parts of Brooklyn, Martin Golden, said. "We haven't seen numbers like this since the '80s and early '90s." Parole statistics also show that the number of A1 felons released after reappearing in front of the parole board rose to 185 in 2007 from 63 in 2005.
Some lawmakers fear that the parole board may be compromising the strong stance taken against perpetrators of violent crimes under the Pataki administration, such as the passing of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1998, known as Jenna's Law, which mandated longer sentences for violent offenders.
"We ended parole with Jenna's Law, yet the parole board seems to forget about the legislation" the chairman of the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee, state Senator Michael Nozzolio of Seneca Falls, said. He called today's hearing.
A spokesman for the parole board, Mark Johnson, said the board has not changed any policies and that it strictly follows legislative regulations when determining parole.
"We are following the letter of the law," Mr. Johnson said. "We're happy to discuss any concerns the Legislature would have."
He added that the board does not believe the numbers indicate a dramatic shift. The spike in the number of A1 felons released on parole from state prisons likely has little to do with a change in parole board policy, John Brickman, the chairman of the Correctional Association of New York, a policy and advocacy group that monitors state prisons, said.
"What it says is that the parole board is looking closer at individual cases," he said.
While Mr. Golden said he is not ready to accuse the parole board of taking a less stringent stance against violent criminals, he said he wants to see proof.
"We want more information so that we can make a good judgment," he said.
Representatives of the parole board, the Division of Criminal Justice Services, and the Department of Correctional Services are expected to testify in front of the committee.
