Convicts Released Due to Overcrowding

(Seattle, Washington) It appears that law enforcers have exceeded the limit for incarceration. A mass release of convicted felons from King County jails was ordered last Friday because the number of criminals was greater than the allotted jail beds. A total of 83 convicts, including high-risk sexual predators and violent felons, were merely told to check in with their probation officers after release.

All of the felons were freed from the jails before an administrative-hearing officer could rule on how they should be punished for violating terms of their earlier release. The DOC ordered the releases without its usual consultation with the community corrections officers who supervise the felons and know their criminal patterns and backgrounds the best, said a representative of the union that represents the officers.

The releases came as Gov. Christine Gregoire awaits a report from the DOC about why two Seattle police officers and a King County sheriff's deputy were killed last year during encounters with felons who were being sought for violating terms of their release.

So, without consultation, scores of dangerous people were put out on the street.

"We've had officers killed, we've had officers injured, and all of them at the hands of somebody who should have been in prison," Seattle Police Officers' Guild President Rich O'Neill said Monday. "You make a judgment call; you better be right. If one of these sex offenders gets out and re-offends, who is responsible for it?"

I'll guess that none of the game-playing officials will accept responsibility when the released convicts resume committing crimes.