Criminals allowed to run free
by Lori Barrett | June 20, 2008 at 9:03 am
Posted in baltimore crime
At Baltimore’s Parole and Probation office, a “change in logistics” will allow wanted criminals to escape without being chased.
Two parole agents were assaulted last week by a man with an open warrant, who decided to make a run for it instead of waiting for police to arrive and arrest him. Because of this incident, the office was instructed to instead keep the offenders in an area where they can more easily escape, rather than assault staff in an attempt to flee.
In the e-mail, the supervisor of the Violence Prevention Unit wrote: “We did this so that in the event an offender chooses to run they can.”
These arrests are ironically part state’s Violence Prevention Initiative, in which parole agents work with police to jail violent offenders on parole violations, like failing a drug test.
So if you find yourself on the 400 block of East Preston Street where the office is located, keep an eye out for anyone on the run — and get out of the way. No one will be chasing him.
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June 20th, 2008 at 3:23 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Yes, this is pretty stupid...but I understand. Parole officers do not have arrest power...and most of the time they aren't to sort of person that's capable of securing a violent offender.
This really comes down to a lack of communication between uniformed officers and parole/probabtion officers. Instead of developing reactive protocol...why not develop a system that requires specific communication and officer presence when an arrest is going to be made.
!
June 20th, 2008 at 3:40 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
YCKTR..... DUH this Baltimore. Commonsense does not belong here, nor does justice. It makes perfectly good sense for the city to let every criminal know publically that if they feel like escaping we won't chase ya. No need for law and order in this town.
There is a constant message being sent to the criminal element in Baltimore...
go ahead and assualt and run from us we wont chase you.
Go ahead and ride your illegal dirt bikes on city streets endangering everyone including yourself we won't chase you.
Go ahead beat up defenseless women on buses we'll just ask you to sign a paper and get free coupons if you promise not to do it again.
I just don't understand why more people do not see how this city treats it criminals, in many cases (Anna Sowers a perfect example) better than its law abiding tax paying citizens.
June 21st, 2008 at 12:55 am | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
What's next? Letting convicted criminals buy guns, because they might get violent if they have to steal them? What the hell are those people smoking? Lunatics have indeed taken over the asylum...