Less Supervision for Low Level Offenders

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By Lena Vargas

Summary

The change is due to a new state law. The Department of Corrections says it helps it focus on the most violent and repeat offenders. But Franklin County says it adds to its workload and is cause for concern.

Story Published: Nov 10, 2009 at 6:26 PM PST

Less Supervision for Low Level Offenders
A change in the law means 10 thousand convicted criminals who might have had parole officers a year ago, do not.

Locally, that's about 400 cases in Franklin County alone. That means more work for the county, just as the budget is shrinking. County Clerk Michael Killian says it also means less safety.

"They may be low offenders but they still need help with whatever drug problems they may have, before department of corrections could do drug testing....keep them off the streets," said Killian.

The Department of Corrections sees things differently. It says less low level offenders in the state's files, means they can concentrate more on "violent" offenders.