An average of 3 parolees cut off their ankle monitors every day, DOC says (Colorado)

The DOC says an average of three ankle monitors, like the one suspected killer Evan Ebel wore, are cut off every day in Colorado.

According to a document released by the DOC Tuesday, the department’s monitors triggered 89,000 alerts in just the past six months.

“I want you to think about the scope of information that comes in on a daily basis,” Alison Morgan, a spokeswoman from the DOC.

The 89,000 alerts include every type of incident, from a simple power loss to tampering.

The DOC says the first time Evan Ebel tampered with this ankle monitor was the same day he cut it off.

The monitor triggered a “proximity tamper” alert at 3:21 p.m. March 14th. Two seconds later, it gave off a “strap tamper” alert.

Police believe Ebel later killed Nathan Leon, who was delivering pizzas on the night of his death, and Colorado prison director Tom Clements.

The DOC says the monitor Ebel was wearing alerted his parole officer within seconds of him cutting it off on March 14.

Despite the tamper alert notification, the parole officer didn’t request a warrant for Ebel’s arrest until March 19.

If you can't trust a man enough to put him on the streets without an ankle bracelet then he shouldn't be out on the streets.

Prisons and jails only deter crime among civilized men. About the only good prison does is that it segregates some of the uncivilized from the rest of society but they are expensive and space is limited. Modern penological practices are a failure.

These incorrigible brutes should be stripped of their citizenship, booted them out of the country, and if they sneak back in summarily executed. Why should decent people have to pay for these animals?

“How about his: as soon as a tamper alert goes out, a wanted dead or alive bulletin is issued.”

Even better let’s reform the judicial system to return to the intent of the Constitution:

1) Right to a speedy trial. Accused should be tried within 6 months of arrest. If the state cannot put together its case within 6 months the charges should be dropped. Zimmerman in Florida has been in limbo for over a year. This is a tragedy and a farce.
2) Appeals should be heard and decided within 3 months of filing. Get rid of the decades long appeal process. Those convicted of capital crimes should be executed within a year of the initial trial. The death penalty would be a deterrent again if criminals knew there was a high likelihood they would be dead within a year should they be convicted.
3) Limit plea bargains. In too many instances cold blooded murderers are being allowed to plea down to second degree murder and manslaughter.
4) Restrict the ability of lower level judges to interpret laws and the Constitution. They should be judging based on the law as written.
5) As you indicated, as soon as the tamper alert goes out, a warrant for arrest should be issued and the convict should be reincarcerated. It can be rescinded if the investigating officer finds a legitimate malfunction.
6) Reform tort law. Limit putative damages. Institute “loser pays”. If the loser cannot pay, the attorney representing the loser should be liable. Judges should also be instructed to reject frivolous lawsuits so they are not clogging up the system.
7) Allow small claims courts to hear amounts of up to $25,000. Today amounts are $2000 to $5000 in most states. Average citizens cannot afford to hire a lawyer to seek a $20,000 judgment against a contractor who cheats them on a job or a repair shop that damages their engine when doing an oil change. Average taxpaying citizens need to have access to the justice system. In today’s world only the very wealth or the poor can “afford” to seek justice.
8) Allow jurors to submit questions to the judge for witnesses. In sitting on juries in civil court I’ve found neither the plaintiff or the defendant’s attorney ask some very logical and relevant questions which could easily help to decide the matter.
9) Mandatory prison terms for prosecutors and law enforcement officials who do not make evidence available to defendant’s counsel in criminal trials. The concealing of evidence in the Zimmerman trial is reprehensible.
10) Members of the bar who involved themselves in criminal trials by representing third parties (i.e. the attorney representing Travon Martin’s parents in the Zimmerman trial) should be required to register with the court hearing the case and be subject to directives of the judge with respect to public statements, interviewing potential witnesses, and reviewing evidence.
11) White collar criminals should be required to spend some time in the general prison population. Allowing them to serve all of their time at home or in minimum security environments does not adequately punish them.

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