Posted on 11/13/2007 2:36:44 PM PST by knighthawk
New York appears to be abandoning a hard-line policy on parole that has served the state well for more than a decade and contributed to a historic reduction in violent crime. Parole officials have been quietly turning loose greater numbers of violent convicts - and now Gov. Spitzer is getting ready to surrender in a convicts' lawsuit that's aimed at speeding the trend.
Before another murderer, kidnapper, arsonist or rapist is freed, Spitzer needs to explain to the public exactly what's going on and why. His parole chief, George Alexander, is mum. And the governor's aides refuse to discuss their strategy for the legal action. Silence on such an important issue is unacceptable.
Sentencing reforms pushed through by former Gov. George Pataki all but abolished parole for violent crimes. Yet some 1,000 inmates convicted under the old laws are still serving out their sentences and coming up for parole.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
In the future it will be called the Spitzer’s revenge.
Something has to change. I don’t know NY State’s statistics, but New Jersey now has 300% more parolees at any given time than there were total state prisoners and parolees in 1980. The NJ state prison population today is now 350% higher than it was in 1980, AND a higher percentage of total population than in 1980. NJ has more non violent drug offenders in state prison today than NJ had total state prison population in 1980. This all with significantly lower violent crime rates today compared to 1980.
This system is stunningly destructive, incredibly expensive, and nearing complete worthlessness.
All those arguments about the prison-industrial complex that the pro-prison special interests won in the last three decades are coming home to roost in NJ, the state literally can not afford the yearly costs of the prison industry on the state budget.
This guy Spitzer is about the worst clown NY could have elected.
We all know what's going to happen when crime rates start to go up again, Eliot Mess will attack the problem he created by going after the rights of everyone. New gun grabbing laws are sure to be his first priority. And then of course more taxes will be needed to pay for every one his harebrained liberal schemes.
Liberals think exactly like petty criminals... If it weren’t for the existence of politics they would BE petty criminals (and some not so petty). Letting violent felons out of prison (read the whole article) makes them FEEL better because they detest ANY form of punishment... just as any criminal would.
Before 1940 90% of all US prisons wee either self sufficient or turned a profit. If we could go back to that system NJ could actually PROFIT from its prisoners.
Just don’t say that the Democrats are soft on criminals!
It's getting near time to get out of this state, Spitzer's revenge is going prove to be dangerous. I don't think he's even warmed up yet for what he's got planned.
So, if I understand you corrctly - it’s OK (and saves money) to let crack-heads and tweekers out on the street to steal and burgle - as long as they are “non-violent”?
Don’t get me wrong - just asking. As in Alaska you can have -in possestion- up to 4 OZ of weed with no penalty.
I’m not sure where the balance should be, but the pendulum has to and is going to swing back toward a more small “l” liberal live and let live approach out of financial necessity.
Here, Dope is not the big problem you seem to have in NJ — here in Alaska - it’s alcohol.
It does cost the State millions a year to house the prisoners. Larry Niven has the voiced solution, we just need better transplant technology.....
The NYer’s voted for this devil Spitzer and they will reap their just reward. Funny how the normal folks in flyover country had Spitz pegged early and he would never get elected anywhere but those Blue Paradises full of the smart people...yeah suck it up New Yawkers. You got a trio of trouble with Schumer, Hill & Spitz....
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