3-19-2008 Michigan:
Yet another parolee in Jackson County is accused of a violent crime, and Sheriff Dan Heyns is enraged.
"It's a recurring theme," he says. "I'm at the point in my career where I've seen it so much, I don't have words to lend for it."
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark Blumer agrees.
"We have murders committed by parolees. We have assaults committed by parolees. We see it happen over and over again, and it's frustrating from the law enforcement standpoint," says Blumer.
So Jackson County law enforcement is calling for change.
"We recommend the parole department set new priorities for who they parole," Blumer says. "We need to recognize certain cases are more likely to recidivate."
"We're constantly re-evaluating our system," answers Russ Marlan, Department of Corrections spokesman.
But Marlan says no matter how many changes they make to the parole system, it's still hard to predict who will re-offend.
"We don't have a potion, we don't have a contraption that will correct them" into being law-abiding citizens after a life of crime, Marlan says.
He says in Michigan about 50 percent of prisoners are paroled, and about 50 percent of those commit another crime.
Only 11 percent of sex offenders are paroled, and 32 percent of them strike again.
Again, the MDOC spreads false information. see Recidivism Chart, reality! eAdvocate
Law enforcement says that's too much, but there's no obvious solution.
"It's a tough decision, I know that, especially considering budget issues," Heyns says. "But on the other hand, the government's role should be to protect citizens."
And they feel like their hands are tied when violent convicts are paroled onto their streets. ..more.. by Lauren Zakalik, Email Address: lauren.zakalik
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