Bill curbs parole of sex offenders, violent inmates

2-25-2011 New Hampshire:

CONCORD – New Hampshire failed to create an intense supervision program for hard-core, violent and sexual offenders before releasing them from prison, several people charged at a public hearing Thursday.

The Senate Judicial Committee held a public hearing on a bill, SB 52 (click to view status and text), which would change two key components of the controversial SB 500. One would let the parole board recommit inmates for longer than 90 days if they re-offend and the other would prohibit the early release of inmates convicted of violent crimes or sexually violent offenses.

The bill's prime sponsor, Senate President Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, said his bill was intended to address the shortcomings in the law approved last year.

SB 500 became a hot-button issue during last year's gubernatorial campaign, with Republican John Stephen accusing Democrat Gov. John Lynch of sacrificing the public safety. Republicans vowed to change the law, while Lynch said he was open to fine-tuning the legislation.

After a lengthy study, state leaders backed a plan to release violent and sexual offenders who served their maximum sentences nine months early, but under "intense supervision" with social services such as alcohol and substance abuse counseling, as well as help with finding a place to live and a job, and other social services to smooth the transition out of prison.

Supporters say the plan should reduce the number of inmates, provide greater public safety and reduce the high number of inmates who return to prison after they are released.

But opponents claim the state never set up the network needed to supervise the inmates and instead released them into the communities to offend again.

Many of the politicians and law enforcement leaders who backed the bill urged the committee Thursday not to change the law, but said giving the parole board more discretion to incarcerate parole violators was probably a good thing.

Attorney General Michael Delaney urged the committee not to reverse direction, saying SB 500 would advance public safety, put a dent in skyrocketing corrections costs and reinvest those savings into community-based services.

He said without SB 500, prisoners who serve their maximum sentences are released without any supervision, treatment or protection for the public.

"These are the most dangerous people," said Delaney. "And yet they are the only people in the system allowed to open the gates and walk out scott-free and that has to change."

Rockingham County Attorney Jim Reams said SB 500 was a step in the right direction, but took all discretion away from the parole board. When lawmakers limited the sentence for parole violations to 90 days, they created a right for inmates, he said.

He said the public expects the inmates to receive services and supervision when they are released.

"You can't expect the Department of Corrections to do more with less," he said. "New Hampshire did it on the cheap. We've let them out first and we'll supervise them later." The director of the Attorney General's Office's Victims' Assistance Program, Sandra Matheson, said victims were involved in developing the prison reform plan. They want to know where the inmates are and they do not when they finish their sentence and walk out the doors, she said.

"They can move next door to their victims," she said. "They're moving below the radar and not accountable to anyone."

Parole Board executive assistant, John Eckert, said the board agrees the supervised-release program improves public safety.

"Even if only for nine months, we're in charge of what they do. If you let them out without supervision, that's a scary thought," he said.

Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, backed the bill and suggested several changes.

Since the provisions went into effect in October, there have been headlines indicating it has impacted public safety he said.

"There have been enough examples between Oct. 1 and now to give one pause," he said. "The Corrections Department was not ready Oct. 1 by their own admission. You need to ask them if they are ready today." ..Source.. by GARRY RAYNO, New Hampshire Union Leader Staff