Your voices make it real and relevant. Recent allegations of negligence by the Washington State Department of Corrections parole system have shined the spotlight on the enormous sums of money spent in the last six months to settle lawsuits against the state. Although community corrections workers received a black eye in an in-depth review by the Tacoma Tribune, others must share the blame. Consider the complexities of supervising the 55,000 felons who live and work in our communities. Parole officers have huge caseloads, an endless amount of paperwork and the frustration of dealing with a system that releases felons early to provide bed space for incoming prisoners.
Answers seem to be in short supply.
We do know that many parolees live in the Yakima area. As with any crime-prevention program, vigilance is a good place to start. Be careful, watch out for your neighbor and hope for the best. After all, the state can t be responsible for everything that happens to us. Remember, your comments are the backbone of this newsletter and I really love reading and sharing them.