Gov asks stricter parole for repeat violence

[WhiteFeather]

Welcome to the party Gov finally doing something with repeat violent criminals, now if we can just deal with the criminal's justice system routinely using plea bargaining deals with repeat violent offenders get off with just a slap on the wrist. We could get by with less firearm laws by holding criminals accountable for their actions instead of making laws trying to control the objects they use to in crime.

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/national/37078694.html

Guv asks stricter parole for repeat violence

Gov. Rendell yesterday asked the Legislature to end parole for repeat violent offenders and said the state would expand its supervision of such offenders who have already been paroled.

The request came a day after Rendell said he received the criminal history on a man who had been paroled three times before allegedly killing two people in the Philadelphia suburbs last year.

He also cited the deaths of two Philadelphia police officers killed in 2008, allegedly by parolees.

"These murders cry out for changes in how we sentence our violent repeat offenders who use deadly weapons," Rendell said. "This is a situation that simply has to change."

Under the governor's proposal, repeat violent offenders who use a deadly weapon in the commission of a crime would receive flat sentences without parole. Currently, sentences are given as a time span - for example, five to 10 years - and offenders are eligible for parole after serving the minimum amount.

Rendell is proposing that once offenders serve the flat sentence, they be given by the parole board five years of supervision. Violators could be sent back to prison.

Sherry Tate, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, said board members have been refining their criteria for release and are looking more closely at factors of violence and guns in making their decisions.

"Public safety is our mission," Tate said yesterday. "We have a pretty sound system. If the governor and the Legislature want to change the sentencing laws, then that is fine."

Parole works for nonviolent and less-violent offenders, Rendell said. He noted of the 31,000 people on parole in Pennsylvania in 2007, 95 percent did not commit another crime.

The state is evaluating the cases of repeat violent offenders on parole for less than five years to determine whether their supervision is adequate given their criminal histories.

Rendell also wants the parole board to place greater weight on convicts' offenses - as opposed to their time in prison - when making release decisions. Some violent offenders "game the system" by behaving and taking classes to be released early, Rendell said.

Tate said parole board members are receiving training to improve their assessment and interviewing skills.

Rendell temporarily halted the parole of state-prison inmates in September and ordered a review of the system after Philadelphia Officer Patrick McDonald was killed by paroled felon Daniel Giddings during a traffic stop. Giddings was then fatally shot by another officer.

Rendell lifted the moratorium after a consultant concluded that procedures for evaluating parolees were largely safe and effective.*

[PocketProtector]

Fast Eddie starting to get it ???? First time in my life I agree with him. I just don't see him coming off the gun control agenda however.

[P89]

Took him long enough.
He must have figure he better do something useful.

[d90king]

Here's a thought................


NO ONE GETS PAROLED!!!!!

DO THE CRIME ............ DO THE TIME!

I somehow don't believe that violent criminals leave prison "early" (which is what parole is) less violent than when they arrived.

[cgbudde]

Don't trust slick eddy, he is probable going to add some gun control bill to this legislation before he gives it to the legislaters

[Dredly]

1. You are not 'serving your time' by being in a luxury prison with all the conveniences of home. You are not 'paying your debt to society' by living on society's purse strings while you chill with your homies. The next time I hear some asshat say "I paid my debt to society" I'm going to flip

2. The issue isn't that people are getting paroled... its that these scumbags don't care if they go back or not! They aren't worried! They don't CARE! How is extending parole going to make any difference? With a return rate of over 70% its clear that the issue ISN'T people being paroled... its that they aren't worried at all about the consequences!

Want them to wise up? Make the 3 strikes rule result in DEATH not life in "prison"

Hand out death penalties for crimes that deserve them and then FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT! Start killing these fuckers and they will wake up!

[Dredly]

Don't trust slick eddy, he is probable going to add some gun control bill to this legislation before he gives it to the legislaters

nah this one has tax increase and new building project for one of his cronies ALLL over it

[jerkin]

"These murders cry out for changes in how we sentence our violent repeat offenders who use deadly weapons," Rendell said. "This is a situation that simply has to change."

Why just "repeat" offenders, and why only those "who use deadly weapons"? How about "These murders cry out for changes in how we sentence our violent offenders" It's just more BS from the fat bastard that he will use to try to push more gun laws.

[d90king]

Want them to wise up? Make the 3 strikes rule result in DEATH not life in "prison"

When there are consequences for bad behavior, whether you are my 8 year old daughter or a criminal, you will create a change in ones behavior rather quickly.

[bigbear]

Ummm, did anyone else notice that it took something bad happening in Philly to get him to wake the hell up?