Editorial: Reaction to tragedy is rational

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999 | 9:52 a.m.

Last week the Reno Gazette-Journal reported that of the 17 homicides in Washoe and Lyon counties during 1999, four of the men accused of murder were at the time under the supervision of the state Division of Parole and Probation. Typically news like this results in finger-pointing by those government officials involved as they try to avoid accountability. For those holding elective office, the temptation is particularly strong to condemn the agency charged with oversight of the offenders, because politicians know that tough-on-crime posturing plays well with voters. In search of the next Willie Horton that could propel their careers, politicians often decline to take the high road. But in a refreshing change, the Reno newspaper's special report resulted in officials reacting responsibly, even offering possible prescriptions to improve the efficiency of the Parole and Probation Division.

Unless there is 24-hour surveillance of every individual who is either on parole or probation, there is no way the state can guarantee that someone who has been released from prison won't ever again commit a crime, including murder. Division Chief Carlos Concha did acknowledge, though, that at least in two of the murders his agency could have done a better job, because they didn't make the minimum number of visits to the offenders' homes that is required. Concha deserves credit for not going into a shell -- as sometimes is the case when these tragedies occur.

Even though Parole and Probation has begun a new way of overseeing officers to ensure that they keep tabs on the offenders, there still is a legitimate concern that there aren't enough officers. In addition, those tools that they do have, such as a radio system and computers, are in serious need of being improved. So it was heartening, then, to read the remarks made by Bernie Anderson, the chairman of the state Assembly's Judiciary Committee. "It seems to me that we're not giving them the support they need to do the job," Anderson told the Gazette-Journal. "There are too many people to supervise and not enough people to supervise them," District Court Judge Brent Adams added. Jim Weston, deputy chief of the Reno Police Department and chairman of the state Advisory Commission on Sentencing, noted that it is much more than manpower. Nevada, according to West on, should offer more programs that provide counseling and rehabilitation, such as a $1 million federal grant he helped obtain to support residential after -care programs for parolees.

There are no quick-fix solutions to reduce the likelihood that parolees or probationers will again commit crimes. The issue of adequately funding the agency will have to wait until the Legislature convenes again, which won't be until January 2001. When the Legislature does meet, it should take an exhaustive look at the state's parole and probation policies. A positive approach would be to take a cue from those officials responding to the murders in Lyon and Washoe counties, a demonstration that a discussion of this controversial issue can actually promote a dialogue, not demagoguery.