{"id":7469,"date":"2023-05-08T10:25:17","date_gmt":"2023-05-08T14:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pef.org\/?p=7469"},"modified":"2023-05-08T10:28:03","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T14:28:03","slug":"pef-strongly-supports-parole-officer-demands-changes-to-less-is-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pef.org\/articles\/news\/pef-strongly-supports-parole-officer-demands-changes-to-less-is-more\/","title":{"rendered":"PEF strongly supports parole officer, demands changes to Less is More\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

PEF President Wayne Spence and more than a dozen PEF parole officers gathered outside the city court in Cohoes, N.Y., on May 4, 2023. Spence delivered remarks regarding the case of parolee Taquan Hassell, who was charged with Unlawful Imprisonment and Assault in the third degree of a parole officer. The officer is a member of PEF.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"PEF
PEF President Wayne Spence was joined by a dozen parole officers outside the city court in Cohoes, N.Y., on May 4, 2023.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThis parolee decided that it was okay for him to prevent an officer who stopped by to perform a routine residence verification and curfew check on April 26,\u201d Spence said during the press conference. \u201cLiterally, he physically prevented this New York State parole officer from leaving the residence.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hassell appeared in court on May 4. Following the hearing, Spence spoke with parole officers about the incident, the concerns of parole officers and PEF members, and how PEF believes the state should move forward. He praised the officer for not using force to resolve the incident.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo many things could have gone wrong. But the parole officer kept their composure and was professional,\u201d he said. \u201cThe officer was eventually able to leave by talking him down. It is a testament to who we are as New York State Parole Officers.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Parole officers are typically armed and are a part of the Department of Corrections and Community Service and in addition to firearms training, they receive training on social worker skills.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re hearing about more and more cases of parolees confronting the parole officers in charge of supervising them,\u201d Spence said. \u201cThanks to Less is More parole reform, parolees have no sense of accountability for bad behavior.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Spence specifically cited the \u201c30 for 30\u201d clause as one of the crucial issues for parolees feeling emboldened under Less is More. Parolees currently earn 30 days off their sentence for every 30 days of good behavior while on parole. However, any violations they incur while on parole, such as assault charges or skipping curfew or missing mandatory drug treatment programs, do not stop the 30-day clock until they are convicted of a new offense.\u00a0 PEF believes this takes too much power away from parole officers, who can no longer enforce consequences on their parolees.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So although Hassell has been charged and is working through the court system, \u201c30 for 30\u201d still technically applies until a final hearing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis person is still earning good time as though this person is a model parolee,\u201d Spence said. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing model about this.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

PEF hopes lawmakers amend Less is More, and Spence is looking for the chance to help facilitate that change.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI welcome an opportunity for the legislators, the governor\u2019s folks, even the advocates to sit and talk to parole officers about what\u2019s going on in the community,\u201d Spence said. \u201cNo one talked to us about what\u2019s going on (before Less is More was enacted).\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

PEF will continue to advocate on behalf of parole officers to get the support they need to serve their communities.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis time we were lucky. This time this officer, by the grace of God, came home unscathed,\u201d Spence said. \u201cWhat will happen the next time?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n