The Op-Ed That the Racine Journal Times Won't Print

To The Editor of the Racine Journal Times:

I am disappointed that the Racine Journal Times editorialized against Senate Bill 57, which repeals the early release policy, and decided to portray repeal as a partisan issue. Nothing could be further from the truth. The creation of early release was opposed by members on both sides of the aisle and passed the Senate on a bipartisan 22-11 vote.

Felons freed from prison under the early release program have been convicted of child abuse, theft, sex-related crimes, arson, burglary, battery, OWI and reckless homicide – just to name just a few. These are not tax evaders, and these are not victimless crimes. These are convicted criminals who threatened our community.

Good and bad ideas come from everywhere – Republicans and Democrats. While I believe early release has proven to be a bad idea, there are some aspects of the program that make sense. That’s why I amended the bill to ensure that the good ideas in early release are retained. We included the streamlined process for inmates who earned positive adjustment time to petition the court for release, and we maintained the provisions related to the community incarceration and earned release programs. We also made sure that the sentencing courts, not government bureaucrats in Madison, made deliberative decisions on releasing felons and notify crime victims that request it.

But, more importantly, the release of these convicted felons has resulted in additional crimes. According to the Journal Times’ story from October 17, 2010, five of the first fourteen felons freed into Racine County reoffended, which translates to a 35.7% recidivism rate. Most recently, those released statewide have been charged with crimes ranging from rape to theft to resisting arrest and fleeing. Each of those crimes could have been prevented by keeping those felons in prison until their sentences were completed. This program is not benign. New crime victims were created because of this policy.

Proponents of early release claimed it would provide costs savings to Wisconsin, but they have not materialized as promised. District Attorneys, State Public Defenders, the Department of Justice and the Department of Corrections have all failed to identify any savings with the program, or any increased costs that will result from its repeal. But even if early release did save the state money, how would you respond to these new crime victims? Could you look a victim in the eye and say it was worth saving a few dollars?

Protecting our communities is the number one responsibility of government. It is common sense to prevent every crime we can – including the ones that were committed by the felons on early release. Early release was a bad idea when it was created, and a bi-partisan coalition of legislators agreed when they voted to repeal it.

Regards,

Van Wanggaard

State Senator

21st Senate District – Serving Racine County