As part of a statewide New York effort, fifty prisoners, including child sex offenders, were released in Monroe County due to apparent coronavirus concerns, though it’s unclear if the jail has had any confirmed positive COVID-19 tests.
“Eight registered sex offenders have been released from the Monroe County Jail as part of a statewide order coming from The Department of Corrections and Community Services– or DOCCS,” WIVB reported Sunday.
According to the Monroe County Sheriffs’ Office, more than 50 inmates were released Saturday from the county jail, nine of whom were dumped at a local Holiday Inn Express in the town of Greece.
“Among the inmates known to be staying at the Holiday Inn Express are four registered sex offenders,” the WIVB report said. “Three of whom are registered as level 3 sex offenders and are deemed by New York courts as most likely to re-offend. All three of the level 3 sex offenders staying at the Holiday Inn Express have been convicted for the rape of minors.”
DOCCS apparently ordered a release of “low-level technical parole violators” over COVID-19 concerns, though, again, it remains unclear if there were even any confirmed cases within the jail.
Greece Chief of Police Patrick Phelan was bewildered over the move.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” the police chief said. “If you could present an argument to me that makes sense, I’m willing to listen. But this doesn’t make any sense.”
“So you have a violent criminal who’s done time in state prison who’s been given the chance of parole, and not followed the conditions of their parole,” Phelan explained. “That’s who you’re talking about right now.”
The police chief claims he was not even so much as notified in advance about the release, which clearly would have been useful information for law enforcement officers working to keep their community safe.
“We weren’t told by anyone,” he said. “I think good practice would be if you’re going to release convicted felons. Some of them very violent some of those level 3 sex offenders, You might want to give law enforcement the heads up.”
The DOCCS responded in a statement, defending their decision as necessary in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“This significant action is being taken in response to a growing number of COVID-19 cases in local jails over the past few days and weeks,” the statement reads. “Our top priority remains the public health and safety of New Yorkers during this global public health emergency and this measure will further protect a vulnerable population from contracting and transmitting this infectious disease.”
Democrats in New York have been criticized this past year over their increasing soft stance on criminals, even by folks on the Left.
For example, so-called “bail reform” apparently led to a woman charged with an anti-Semitic attack to be arrested and released three times in five days. In another case, a man charged with second degree manslaughter in connection to the murder of a 29-year-old Albany woman was released from jail after the judge overseeing the case reportedly claimed Democrats’ new “bail reform” legislation no longer allows her to keep the charged party in custody.