Audit reveals offenders monitored after their deaths

10-1-2012 Tennessee:

An audit of the state board of parole found that annual arrest checks were completed on behalf of at least 82 parolees who had been dead, the comptroller announced Monday. In at least one case a parolee had been dead for more than 19 years.

At worst, officers documented contact indicating offenders were still alive, a news release said.

The audit also noted that many files managed by probation and parole officers were not in compliance with all board supervision requirements and were not regularly reviewed by management, according to a news release. In some cases, officers failed to complete or document their attempts to complete all of the required face-to-face contacts with parolees.

In other cases, officers did not perform required home visits of regular offenders, the release said. The audit also showed some sex offenders tracked by GPS equipment had not been properly monitored.

“Inadequate supervision of offenders results in increased public risks and jeopardizes public safety,” Comptroller Justin P. Wilson said in the release. “If parole officers are supervising dead people, this is a waste of taxpayer dollars and makes us wonder about the supervision of parolees living in our communities.”

Auditors also found a number of other issues with the board of parole’s operations, including questionable practices for providing notice of hearing decisions and upcoming board meetings. ..Source.. by The Tennessean