| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/5/2009 11:58:32 PM | | It has recently come to my attention from more than one source (serendepitously?) that Wa state allows convicted criminals to come here for parole and 'reentry'. Does anyone who has knowledge or experience with either legislature or criminal justice know how and why this is allowed to happen here in Wa? I just don't understand why the state needs to be a landfill for criminals, and this information doesn't help the cause of a single person seeking quality prospects in this state either, or at least one not interested in jailbait. Thanks for any insight -Wiyan | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/6/2009 12:07:25 AM | My understanding is that we are not the only state that allows this. From what I understand the state gets paid for this.
I know that in the state of California the corrections industry is the bigget money maker. They have so many prisoners and they don't have enough room. So they basically pay other states to house and keep some of their overflow.
I really haven't varified any of this persay, but this is my understanding of why. | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/6/2009 12:18:47 AM | | what type of criminals. because the majority of people in prison are there on the three strikes charge for possession of marajauna. So if they want to re enter into WA, I could really care less. I don't really see too many gang related murderers and child rapists getting out of prison until after they are 60+ years old, and therefore not really healthy and strong enough to be of a threat to anyone. look at the context of it. | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/6/2009 12:51:50 AM | Lady Read, that's interesting-I thought maybe money was involved. Hard to understand when one considers how much money it cost the system to protect the public from as well as monitor -ie parole, etc.
Bear-I am specifically referring to convicted felons, sex offenders make up many of the 'immigrants', and also felons with at least attempted murder I know of for sure, and I wouldn't be surprised if actual murder convictions as well, tho I am not clear about that specific conviction. Not saying it doesn't happen, but I haven't heard of drug criminals being relocated. | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/6/2009 1:08:54 AM | | in that case, then yes, this is pretty ****ed up and a bad decision. HOWEVER, I would like to hear the pros (not just cons) from the politicians who are doing this, why they think its a good idea, and if they have statistics to back up their doings. Maybe there is something I don't know about it. As well, if these felons are old men and women now, and if a board of corrections has passed that they are no longer a threat to society, I'd not worry so much. However, if they release a 30 year old man who has molested or raped children/young men and women, then yes, I have MAJOR issues with it. | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/6/2009 6:46:21 AM | | I read that and spent some time researching it, but could find nothing to back up the claim. The only state I could confirm this for was Virginia. Now that doesn't mean it's the only state, it just means there is no evidence one way or another. I could post that I heard Obama is issuing handguns to grandmothers in the inner cities and get people whipped into a frenzy, but without a valid piece of information to back it up, my information is useless. | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/6/2009 7:16:22 AM | | This is my personal experience, so I cannot say this is the norm. My ex husband petitioned to be released to the State of Washington when he was released from the Department of Corrections in California. He is a convicted felon for a non-violent crime so he's not a pedophile or rapist. When he petitioned to move here they declined his request because he would not have a "base residence" since I refused to allow him to move in with me. He was released to a half-way house in San Francisco for 30 days and then sent to Texas because part of his probation required he be on house arrest for 6 months post incarceration. He said there was a place in Seattle that would have worked, but the State of Washington said that was not adequate enough and therefore he was not allowed to come here. Thank goodness they got that right. | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/6/2009 9:57:18 AM | | There have been women friends approached by unscrupulous guys who asked for my help in finging out info about them.So...did some research on these guys history and found out lo and behold, they were from another state, were sex o's and had been resettled here. Then just read a book about a psycopath who tried to murder his wife called 'dancing with the devil', and that guy had been resettled to Wa too on parole. I have heard this happening before, but, seeing it in print and hearing it suggested from law enforcement oficers when I was helping out my friends got me wondering. Is accepting criminals here part of what keeps this economy rolling from the jobs it creates? If so, that's really unconscionable that our elected leaders would endorse this! | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/6/2009 10:09:38 AM | | I would venture to say probably every state is doing it........usually it has something to do with having family or a place to go..........remember this is a country not just an independent state. | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/6/2009 10:19:28 AM | I was correct..........it is called compacting..........all 50 states participate inder a federal government blanket.
I was able to find Montanas online.........the below will at least explain what we are talking about........but I knew every state is taking part, I do not think it has anything to do with revenue, its more about the reciprocal agreement of each state doing it.
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Interstate Compact
What is the Interstate Compact?
The interstate compact is an agreement entered into by two or more states to provide supervision to offenders who cross state lines to reside and work. States that enter into an interstate compact become part of the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision (national compact).
What is the primary purpose of the compact?
To enhance public safety and to provide a mechanism that allows a continuum of supervision of offenders who cross state boundaries.
Who administers the compact?
A state administrator and deputies are appointed by the governor of each state to develop operational policies, practices and procedures on how adult offenders will be supervised. Each state operates its own Interstate Compact Unit.
How many states are members of the National Compact?
All 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
How long has Montana been a part of a national interstate compact?
About 30 years.
How did Montana become part of the National Compact?
Through legislative authorization. The 2001 Montana Legislature approved the new compact through Senate Bill 40 ( MCA 46-23-1115).
What are the functions of a state’s Compact Unit?
The Compact Unit of each state arranges transfer of any offenders placed on supervision who meet criteria for transfer under the compact and request to return to their resident state, family or employment. The unit monitors the supervision of adult offenders in other states through correspondence and telephone, ensures the receiving state’s officials have information to complete home and employment investigations and provides supervision for offenders from other states that meet the criteria for acceptance.
How does the Montana Interstate Compact Unit function?
The deputy compact administrator and three administrative support staff perform the daily operations of the Interstate Unit. The unit monitors compact rules and regulations as they pertain to the supervision of the interstate offenders. It is a clearinghouse for all incoming correspondence and telephone communications and works closely with 23 Montana adult district probation and parole offices, seven misdemeanor probation and parole offices, five treatment centers, six regional prisons, six prerelease centers and their institutional probation and parole officers, and other compact-member states.
Does the compact allow states to refuse to accept an offender from another state?
Yes, if an offender wishing transfer does not have family, financial support, employment or residency in the state to which they want to be transferred. Victims’ concerns also can prevent a transfer.
Can a state refuse to accept an offender under the compact based on the crime committed?
No
What are the benefits of the compact?
Communities and victims benefit because policies, procedures and conditions of supervision are enforced across state lines. This means victims are more likely to receive restitution if the offender is working in the community. Offenders benefit because they are allowed to return or relocate where they have families, emotional or financial support, or employment.
How is the use of the Interstate Compact a positive alternative to incarceration?
Many offenders ask to relocate to other states because they are not always residents of the state where they are convicted. Their families, resources and jobs are in other states. Supervision of all offenders crossing state lines is critical and can only be successful when offenders are properly supervised, attending treatment and programming as directed and are employed. The offenders are encouraged to pay off restitution and complete treatment requirements.
What offenders are eligible for transfer?
Offenders on community supervision, including those on parole, probation, conditional release and those convicted of misdemeanors.
How many Montana offenders are being supervised in other states under the compact?
1,080
How many offenders from other states are being supervised in Montana under the compact?
427
How much does the compact cost Montana?
$19,600
Is there a cost to offender wishing transfer and what is it used for?
The Interstate Unit established a $50 application fee that is paid by offenders applying to transfer supervision out of Montana. The fee is used to pay the $19,600 annual dues to the Interstate Commission.
Do all offenders have to pay the fee?
Offenders, in conjunction with their supervising officer, can request a full or partial wavier of the fee.
What effect does not having centralized systems of probation and parole supervision have on Interstate Compact enforcement?
There are many variations in supervision among the states. However, an Interstate Compact is based in federal law and an agreement between states is just that. It does not matter which branch or level of government provides the supervision services, the compact is federal law that must be followed and enforced.
Who is Montana’s state compact administrator?
Pam Bunke, administrator of the Adult Community Corrections Division, which includes probation and parole.
Where can information about the compact be found?
The National Interstate Commission’s Web site is www.interstatecopact.org.
Who supervises misdemeanor cases?
State probation and parole officers working for the department and seven county misdemeanor officers.
Can all misdemeanor cases transfer?
Only offenders convicted in four categories of offenses are mandatory misdemeanor transfer cases: driving under the influence (two or more), sexual crimes requiring registration in the sending state, illegal firearms possession and threatening or causing bodily harm. States may choose to supervise others. | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/6/2009 11:44:30 AM | | Fable, thanks for clearing that up. There you go. Welcome to the United States of America people. While not everything that happens here is something you agree with, there is a reason behind everything. I would assume that to get this benefit, that the felon in question would probably have to have quite the clean record while in prison. | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/6/2009 11:48:36 AM | | Very interesting Fable. I suppose it's better to have this kind of agreement than not if you think about it. At least this way most of the offenders who cross state lines are monitored. It's not "importing" just to make money as some would have you believe. | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/6/2009 12:11:05 PM | | Thanks much Fable for educating all of us! One thing I am well aware of having worked with victims for many years, is that offenders are more easily able to slip through the cracks and reinvent history by moving state to state. The law seems more biased towards offenders than protecting the victim or potential new victims-and yes I am aware of registration as well as ability of victims to give input to PO's. However, some states law enforcment will not even tell you felony info on someone if you call the police to inquire, and say felons have confidentiality (ie AZ is very tightlipped, while some states publish court motions online-ie SD is generous with this info. I have often thought it would be a good idea for law enforcement to be more unified in both record keeping, as well as available info on convictions to general public. Unfortunately, what ends up happening is that though an offender is in the system, they often are not adequately supervised. Example, convicted sex offenders allowed to live with young children (here in WA). Some offenders are more responsibly monitored, and some get away with countless other offenses due to lack of supervision. If an offender's PO is not supervising, the police will tell you well, depends on terms of sentencing, and thus they are able to continue offending, while involved agencies pass the buck back and forth in merry go round fashion, blame rotating bw judge, jury, PO, and police . This is how they literally at times get away with murder. It is true constitutional rights apply to everyone though, including felons, who lose right to vote and bear arms but not much else. I am aware of the legal implications inherent in that fact. I still think though that states could cooperate and coordinate much better on this issue. I guess political sovereignty of states might be a factor? | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/7/2009 12:36:04 PM | just to say on a personal note.
I have very little love for the law and justice system.............. The jails are filled with weed smokers that have become big business for the law enforcement in our country.....it seems to have more to do with revenue and keeping the numbers high to justify the billions spent on their total loser drug war and the number of staff needed to keep it going.
I was in jail once for 12 hours for 3 joints.........or about $2.00 worth of weed..........how I was treated by power freak jailers and the nastiness of their attitude and remarks turned me against that system permanently........ I was shocked at what was going on inside that jail and I am not likely to forget that either. I even had 2 regular officers give me a funny look when the bit-h at the desk that had misinformed the bondsman that I was an escapee from Missouri corrections screamed at me to take my hands off of her counter and came out of her little room and got in my face.....strange though since i am NCIC clear...............the 2 cops couldent believe her attitude especially since it was her mistake, then they took my asthma inhaler and would not take me to the nurse until I was about out of oxygen after requesting to see the nurse that the cops said I needed to do right away when I got in there since they have to take the meds when they book you in.........8 hours later an older jailer came and asked me if i was the guy who needed to see the nurse and he said he did not understand why nobody would help me.......... twice going to the nurse I had to stop to get my breath since my oxygen level had dropped.
One freako jailer with german looking black high boots on stood behind me and said I was breathing fine........my attorney said I had a great lawsuit since the next day after being released I was ambulanced to emergency..............so they try to kill me over $2 worth of weed..........to add I had a handgun on me in a box totally legal, they try to prosecute me for 3 joints but gave me my gun back....after several plain clothed cops asked if I wanted to sell it.......luckily the 12 cops that surrounded me made enough mistakes it got dropped down to just a $200 fine since I dont think they wanted me filing a civil rights suit.
So sorry I am not sympathetic to the cries about criminals and I dont trust law enforcement period.
They dont care..........its all about money and their little power trip in life over someone else. | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/7/2009 1:38:26 PM | It is all about money!
I haven't smoked a joint in many moons but I used to do it out in the open when I was IN THE AIR FORCE!!!
OMG, what a crazy rebel I was | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/7/2009 10:11:45 PM | Hmm I didnt read the entire previous posts... but I was going to say I doubt WA is actively seeking out to import criminals to it's state. In general if a criminal has a family member, spouse, or any other reliable person / home / so forth to stay that happens to be in another state they probably can come to some agreement where they can leave the state and go live with them. This of course depends on the seriousness of the crime, whether they have to stay in the state as mandated by their sentence, plea, or whatever.
I highly doubt it's constitutional to discriminate against a citizen of the US because of their past crimes, status as a former criminal, or someone on parole. There's a lot of agreements between states though to make sure so and so is monitored, check in, and are following the conditions of their paroles.
Anyways, that is just my take on it and to be flipping out about it is hmm quite going overboard. In any other state you probably have criminals from other states moving there. The only state that might not have people on parole moving there a lot is probably Maine solely based on the smaller population meaning less likely a person on parole has family in that state. You could always move to Australia where pretty much that country was based solely on convicted criminals being shipped there and dropped off in the past LOL | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/13/2009 9:55:15 AM |
Some offenders are more responsibly monitored, and some get away with countless other offenses due to lack of supervision. Example, convicted sex offenders allowed to live with young children (here in WA). Some offenders are more responsibly monitored, and some get away with countless other offenses due to lack of supervision.
I work within and with the criminal justice system and this to me is an unfair statement. As you are taking away the personal responsibility of not only the convicted felon but the community as well. PO's can't supervise their people 24/7. Would you want to live with convicted felons? And that is what the community demands when when a felon on supervision commits yet another crime. You could blame the sentencing structure but then people would be complaining because the prisons are more over crowded then what they already are and the tax payers would have to pay for housing them.
Here is a novel idea....what about blaming the women who allow convicted sex offenders to live with them and their children? I see this happen all the time because they don't do the research to find out who they are bringing into their children's life. Then when something happens to their child they want to blame the system for not informing them that the guy was a sex offender. In my job I see this is a common occurance. Or here is a good one....what about the women whose children tell them that the guy they moved in is touching them and the woman refuses to believe it....hmmmmm. Therefore, allowing their children to continue to be victimized by Sex Offenders.
Let's look at community responsibility too. There are people all around us who allow people to be victimized all the time because they don't want to be viewed as a "snitch" or have the belief that "it is none of their business" so they don't report crimes to law enforcement or get involved. Then there is the voting responsibilty of the people. The people that are making the laws that govern the sentencing structures for crimes, the policy and procedures for DOC and the governing guidelines for Interstate Compact. Guess what....they were voted into office by us....American citizens who have maintained our right to vote. So, in essences, we are responsible too. 
Our reality is that Interstate compacting of convicted felons has been happening for a long time. We export just as many as we import. Also, you may be surprised to know that some of the people here on POF, that participate in the forums, whom people admire for their sense of "honesty" are actually convicted felons who are imported/exported amongst the states. I know this because I have come across some in my dating life....yep, do you truly know who you are communicating with on here?
Ok, I'll get off my soap box now but come on people stop blaming the system take some personal responsibility for what is going on in your communities. Reality is we are surrounded by people who will always make the choice to victimize others in this life. This is our reality in society and I don't see it getting any better but that could be because of what I do for a living. | |
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| Washington state importing convicted criminals
Posted: 9/13/2009 10:50:16 AM | | I spent 20 years working for the Kansas Dept of Corrections as a Corrections Supervisor. I was always amazed when we let out a convicted child molester. I also never understood the warning that they were most likely to offend again. Why are we allowing these sick people out in society again? Mostly its the laws . My opinion is that we need to change the laws. I do believe that a small minority were wrongly convicted. I say if they are convicted , they should do there time, be required to attend and complete all sex offender classes. At the end of there sentence , release them. If they are convicted again, execute them immediately. Child molestation is a sickness that cannot be cured. At the very least , these people should never again be allowed to return to society. Until the citizens of this country say enough is enought this will contiue to be a problem . If you feel that enough is enought , contact your state represenative and demand that the laws are changed. | |
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