Latest news with #paroleboard
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Did faulty drug tests taint parole hearings? California is reviewing hundreds of denials
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is reviewing hundreds of state parole hearings to see if any inmates who were denied parole were rejected because of faulty drug tests. Nearly 6,000 drug tests in California prisons are believed to have yielded false positives between April and July last year, and attorneys for the Board of Parole are now conducting a review of inmate files to determine if any of them need to appear before the parole board again to be reconsidered, according to officials with CDCR. If any inmates were denied parole because of the faulty tests, they could be owed a new hearing before the parole board, said attorneys representing inmates affected by the defective drug tests. The review is already underway and will determine if "without the positive drug screening, there is sufficient evidence to support an incarcerated person's denial of parole," said CDCR spokesperson Emily Humpal in a statement. If there isn't enough evidence to support incarceration other than the drug test, a new hearing will be scheduled. Read more: Thousands of California prisoners falsely tested positive for opioids. Did it cost them their freedom? CDCR officials declined to provide details as to how many parole hearings were being reviewed, and if any parole hearings had been rescheduled since the process began. More information will be available after the review is complete, the department said. Representatives at UnCommon Law, a nonprofit advocacy group for inmates seeking parole, said parole board officials this week told their attorneys that the review involves at least 459 parole hearings, as well as dozens of administrative reviews and denials from inmates to move up their parole hearings. Attorneys with the group confirmed the false test results after they received records showing that positive test results had spiked across the state's prison system between April and July last year, raising suspicion that something was wrong. The California Board of Parole is also reviewing 75 administrative denials, and 56 petitions that were denied to advance an inmate's parole hearing, according to the organization. All of the files under review involve inmates who were in CDCR's Medical Assistant Treatment Program and were recently denied parole or petitions to move up their parole hearings to an earlier date, between April 2024 and this month. Inmates in the program treat substance abuse issues with medication. Read more: Faulty DNA test kits were used in thousands of L.A. County criminal cases, authorities say The drug tests, given across the state's 31 prison systems, were distributed as part of some inmates' drug treatment programs and included in their files as part of their medical record. Although prison staff are not allowed to use the drug tests as part of any disciplinary action, the files are accessible to members of the parole board. Some advocates have pushed for medical files to not be included in parole hearing decisions, arguing that the information is private, and could also offer an incomplete or defective picture of the inmate's behavior without the input of doctors. On top of that, advocates with UnCommon Law argue, the drug tests used for medical treatment — like the defective ones used last year — don't include follow-up tests to confirm results, and could push away inmates from seeking medical treatment for addictions. "When the Board uses inconclusive drug tests from substance use treatment records in their parole hearings, they're not just ignoring science and expert medical guidance — they're driving people away from lifesaving treatment during a deadly overdose epidemic in our state prisons," said Su Kim, senior policy manager at UnCommon Law. Natasha Baker, an attorney with UnCommon, praised the state's move to review the recent parole board decisions, but said there were still concerns that the results could affect inmates in the future. "We will need to closely monitor the review process and ensure that the Board takes the necessary steps to mitigate the impact of these faulty records," she said in a statement. The faulty tests were first noticed by the California Correctional Heath Care Services, which provides healthcare to inmates. Read more: 'Utterly Botched': Glitchy rollout of new California bar exam prompts lawsuit and legislative review Positive opiate drug screenings in the state's prisons hovered at about 6% on average every month, according to data obtained by UnCommon Law. But between April and July 2024, the medical drug tests resulted in a positive result range of about 20%. For most prisons, about 1 in 8 tests produced a positive result, according to the group. Quest Diagnostics, the company that provided the faulty tests, said the false results came after the company temporarily changed the reagent, or chemical, that was usually used in the tests. The replacement, which had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is believed to have led to the higher positivity rate. CDCR officials said it was notifying inmates affected by the tests via letters, which would also be included in their electronic health records. On Oct. 18, medical staff also provided additional training to the Board of Parole about the use of drug screenings, including that the tests are meant to only be used for medical purposes. Despite the ongoing review, some attorneys are still concerned there could be other inmates affected by defective drug tests. "The Board's review may not capture everyone impacted by this, as it is not entirely clear how the Board is deciding that false positives were determinative of a parole decision," Baker said in a statement. "The [Parole] Board has not addressed what happens to people who were impacted by the false positives but who haven't had their hearings yet." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
New domestic violence bill inspired by Jayden Perkins awaits Pritzker's signature
A new bill aimed at helping victims of domestic violence is waiting on Gov. JB Pritzker's signature. State lawmakers passed the bill on Wednesday. It will require members of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to have mandatory training on domestic violence. The board is responsible for letting prisoners out on parole. It's inspired by the case of Jayden Perkins who was protecting his mother when police say her ex-boyfriend stabbed him to death. His mother had filed an order of protection against her ex, but the board didn't get that information and let him out. "It doesn't appear they were checking for active orders of protection, it doesn't appear they were checking for pending orders of protection," President and CEO of "The Network" Amanda Pyron said. After Jayden's death, two members of the prisoner review board resigned. The suspect Crosetti Brand is currently on trial and representing himself.
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- RNZ News
Man behind armed pub robberies denied parole for third time
File photo. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook The Parole Board has refused to release serial masked robber Douglas Roake from prison, saying it remains in the dark as to the reasons for his offending. The 30-year-old carried out six armed pub robberies in Canterbury over a month and a half in 2017, before invading a rural home in Rolleston and shooting a mother and her daughter. He was jailed for 13 years and eight months with a minimum non-parole period of six and a half years. Roake, who was 23 at the time, was arrested in April 2017. He pleaded guilty to six charges of aggravated robbery, as well as two of wounding with intent to injure and two charges of presenting a firearm. He committed the home invasion after robbing the Ashburton Hotel, and it later became known that he had robbed several other bars at gunpoint in Canterbury including the Brickworks Bar - which he hit twice - the Springston Hotel and Trevinos Bar and Restaurant. Roake appeared before the Parole Board last July, where concerns were raised about his different accounts of the offending, as he accepted his initial explanation had not been truthful. Parts of the decision released on Tuesday were redacted, but showed that Roake had provided some further information about the offending which indicated he had not been acting alone when he committed the robberies. He told the board he had lied when he was first arrested because he did not know how to tell the truth. He said he received a cut of the proceeds of each robbery and was hopeful of receiving a cut on subsequent occasions which influenced his decision to agree to further robberies. Roake also said he used some of the proceeds to buy more guns. At sentencing, Judge Jane Farish said Roake's offending was "inexplicable" and the police, lawyers, his family and the victims were all baffled as to why he acted in such a serious violent fashion, with this lack of clarity raising issues around risk of reoffending. The board said it still did not have a complete understanding of why the offending occurred, "nor are we confident of which explanation we can rely on". It said the psychological reports before the board did not provide a complete picture of Roake's personality features and how they could contribute to any future risk of further violent offending. "Given the very serious nature of this offending, we also struggle to understand how we can be confident that Roake will not develop misplaced beliefs or perceptions in the future or rely on fantasy movie scripts to enact further violence. "Nor are we confident that [withheld] he would not be vulnerable again to taking extreme actions when pressured." When asked how the board could be satisfied nothing like this could happen again, Roake said if he felt threatened or pressured in the future he would contact police. The board declined parole as it did not have the necessary information to assess future risk. It requested another psychological report focused on his personality features and neurodiversity related issues and how they may be relevant to his risk of reoffending. The board said it did not require further exploration of Roake's explanations of his offending, as that had been well traversed, unless the psychologist considered it to be important. "With five and a half years left on his sentence and the uncertainties around his risk, we consider that a lengthy period of reintegration is required." Roake has been in self-care for seven months at the Otago Corrections Facility, has been working in the external grounds and on occasion has worked in the dairy farm. He will appear in front of the parole board again next April. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Dangerous prisoners will be released under Starmer's plans, warns Victims' Commissioner
Dangerous criminals blocked from release by the Parole Board could be freed early from jail under the Government's latest emergency scheme to tackle prison overcrowding, the Victims' Commissioner has warned. Baroness Newlove has written to Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, to say she is 'genuinely struggling to understand' why such prisoners have been targeted for release under the recall scheme. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Justice said criminals, including some violent offenders, burglars, domestic abusers and sex offenders, who have been recalled to prison will automatically be re-released after just 28 days. Ms Mahmood said the measure was necessary to avoid jails running out of space in the next five months. The early re-release scheme will apply to most prisoners sentenced to between one and four years, even if they are recalled to prison for minor crimes such as shoplifting. At present, criminals recalled to prison are only re-released after their case has been considered by the Parole Board, which decides if they can be safely freed to serve the rest of their sentence in the community. In her letter, Lady Newlove said many recalled offenders would already have been in prison for more than 28 days after having their applications for release rejected. 'In each case, the [Parole] Board will have applied the public protection test and concluded that it remained necessary to keep the individual in custody to protect the public,' she said. Lady Newlove also noted that recalled prisoners would have been sent back to jail because they were an 'unacceptable' risk in the community. 'In short, we are re-releasing a group of offenders assessed as high risk and with a track record of poor compliance. These high-maintenance offenders are all being re-released at a time when the Probation Service is already struggling to cope with the huge demands being placed upon it,' she said. 'For these reasons, I am very concerned about the implications for both victim and wider public safety. Can you tell me what safeguards will be put in place to protect victims and uphold public trust? 'I am also worried about the cumulative impact of these short-term, stop-gap measures on victim confidence in our justice system. With each announcement, there is always a perception that this will be the last, only to be disappointed.' Ministers said they had been forced to act following official projections that prisons would run out of space by November, raising the prospect that police may not be able to arrest offenders because of the lack of available cells. Ms Mahmood warned it could lead to the 'total breakdown of law and order,' which left her no option but to introduce the recall measures to buy time before more fundamental reforms to sentencing are recommended in a review next week by David Gauke, the former justice secretary. The new 28-day fixed-term recall is expected to free up 1,400 prison spaces. Serious sex and violent offenders, terrorists, dangerous domestic abusers and any criminal who commits a serious further offence after their release – such as murder, rape or kidnap – will not be eligible for release under the scheme.
RNZ News
08-05-2025
- RNZ News
Karla Cardno's killer Paul Joseph Dally again denied parole
Paul Joseph Dally has been at the self-care unit at Auckland South Corrections Facility, with a minimum security classification Photo: RNZ / Sam Olley In a decision released on Thursday, the parole board remained concerned about the level of support available to Dally while he reintegrated, but work was underway to prepare him for that. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on 8 March 1990, and for the past year had been held in a self-care unit at Auckland South Corrections Facility, with a minimum security classification. When he appeared before the parole board in June 2024 , it heard about his efforts to prepare for an eventual release - but on that date, he did not seek parole By now aged in his mid 60s, he was told to expect a very different world than the one he had known - one where people used cards rather than cash, and bought their food from modern supermarkets. His lawyer, Emma Priest, submitted in April that, while her client was not seeking parole, he was "almost ready," although he remained dependent on support from his case manager to prepare for reintegration. At the time, the board found Dally's safety plan inadequate. He appeared before the board again in April, and according to the parole board decision released on Thursday, he had been engaging with a senior psychologist on understanding his risks, warning signs and coping strategies. But the board denied him parole once again, largely due to issues around accommodation. "A central issue that is still to be determined is Mr Dally's accommodation arrangements when he returns to the community," the decision reads. The board had "considerable doubt" that the required level of support and oversight necessary in Dally's case would be available. He could appear before the parole board again in six months' time, by 31 October, which the board hoped would provide sufficient time to complete his work with the psychologist, and with his case manager in developing his release plan. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
