Sun Editorial:

Failures in parole system

California inspector general faults supervision of Dugard’s alleged kidnapper

Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

The man accused of kidnapping Jaycee Dugard and holding her captive for 18 years was improperly supervised during the 10 years he was under the jurisdiction of California parole authorities.

So says the California inspector general, who documented his findings in a report released last week.

Dugard was 11 and living in South Lake Tahoe when, police say, she was kidnapped by Phillip Garrido in 1991. At the time, he was on federal parole after having been convicted of kidnapping and rape in 1977.

California’s corrections department assumed parole responsibility for Garrido in 1999 because he was living in the state. After Dugard was rescued and Garrido arrested in August, the inspector general began investigating how a sex-crime parolee, supposedly under tight supervision, could now stand accused of kidnapping and sexual assault.

The inspector general reviewed an assessment of the case by the corrections department. Astonishingly, the department’s own review had found that Garrido’s supervision was inadequate for 111 of the 123 months he was under its jurisdiction.

A failure by parole officers to regularly visit Garrido at his home in Antioch was cited in the report. That failure was likely the fault of department supervisors, who reportedly erred in interpreting rules governing supervision of high-level sex offenders.

Another documented failure was that of not paying attention to signals from a monitoring device placed on Garrido’s ankle in 2008. This allowed him to travel freely — and to go unchallenged on the inordinate amount of time he was spending in the back yard of his sizable property, where police say Dugard was being held.

Also, when parole officers did visit Garrido, they missed obvious clues, including power lines extending to buildings in his back yard that police say housed Dugard and eventually her two children. Parole officers also neglected to talk with Garrido’s neighbors to learn what they knew about his activities.

The report should be required reading for all parole officers in the country. An earlier rescue of Dugard could have occurred were it not for so many mistakes.

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

By dwms

11/9/09 at 2:53 a.m.

Suggest removal

Garrido kidnapped Jaycee Dugard. Clark County's CPS is handing girls over to their sexual abusers.

We have CPS record after CPS record where caseworkers are asking the girls sexual abusers if they abuse the children. Guess what the abuser says?

Clark County Commissioners harbor, aid and abet these criminals. Sheriff Gillespie refuses to arrest them due to the 24 hour law. CPS refuses to investigate. DA Roger refuses to prosecute. Clark County Family Division Court orders the children to their abusers.

Wrongful deaths are up over 230%. YOUR RIGHT!
By Planetearthcalling

11/9/09 at 5:34 a.m.

Suggest removal

I really do get a kick out of bashing Callyfornia every chance I get.

But, I have to ask the question. Who was the dumbs--t that released a violent sexual predator after serving only 10 years of a fifty year sentence. Nevada ? Shouldn't we go ahead and look into that as well.
By Phargo

11/9/09 at 10:50 a.m.

Suggest removal

Just like every other government "service". The Parole System can't do their job. They all say they are understaffed and over worked. I say it is because they are incompetent. The whole system is flawed and we pay for the consequences. Just like the kookoo in Cleveland that killed a dozen women. He is also on parole and he is a convicted sex offender. Was there any supervision? Hell no! They all say the same thing , overworked and underpaid and understaffed etc etc etc. Bull Pucky! Now they (government) wants to supervise your health care. Not bloody likely !!

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