tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post112896894214323958..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Travis absconders stay on probation rolls too longGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1129147487080588512005-10-12T15:04:00.000-05:002005-10-12T15:04:00.000-05:00How 'bout this, md: Use the early release provisio...How 'bout this, md: Use the early release provisions in current law for every probationer who is eligible to reduce probation caseloads. That would free up time for POs to better supervise everyone who hasn't earned that privilege, including absconders. Whaddya think?Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1129141200130594802005-10-12T13:20:00.000-05:002005-10-12T13:20:00.000-05:00Although I still think that releasing any absconde...Although I still think that releasing any absconder from probation is a bad idea and deviates from the ideal of justice, I also think that you're right - at a certain point, especially with limited funds, you have to make a choice about what's more important. Partly because of funding, justice is, IMO, about making choices among the lesser of evils. And relatively speaking, releasing low-level offenders isn't so horrible (even though I still would rather we did not have to). Believe it or not, I agree with everything else you said in your response. Funding that matches the rhetoric of campaign speeches would be ideal.<BR/>It would also be nice if the lawmakers were the ones who had to explain it to their constituents why we don't have the funds to pursue people who decided they didn't want to continue their punishment any more. I've had to tell several victims of misdemeanor and felony offenders that the reason why the defendant was not in court was because the authorities simply could not find him or her. The victims don't tend to accept that as a reasonable excuse. To them, their case is the most important.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1129136581156213502005-10-12T12:03:00.000-05:002005-10-12T12:03:00.000-05:00md thinks I'm: "essentially telling low-level prob...md thinks I'm: "essentially telling low-level probationers that if they stop reporting and don't get caught during the remainder of their probation term, they'll get away with it."<BR/><BR/>No, what sends that message is the failure to pursue absconders DURING their probation term. That's the point - the system is sending mixed messages. Our words say tough on crime, but our budgets say supervising probationers isn't a priority. <BR/><BR/>Other big Texas counties that don't keep such folks on their absconder rolls haven't seen the sky fall, and Travis wouldn't either. At some point, reality rears its ugly head and one must make pragmatic choices. Bottom line: Either fund the probation department to keep up with probationers, including tracking absconders, or shorten probation lengths to reduce caseloads so POs can start to do their jobs.<BR/><BR/>It's the CURRENT system that's failing to track probationers adequately, IMO, not the fault of any proposed reforms. Best,Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1129131619589125032005-10-12T10:40:00.000-05:002005-10-12T10:40:00.000-05:00If they are taken off the official "absconder" rol...If they are taken off the official "absconder" roles when their probation would have ended, if they had not re-entered the system, what do you suggest Travis County should do with them? Take them off the probation roles altogether? That would be giving them a free pass on not completing their punishment - and essentially telling low-level probationers that if they stop reporting and don't get caught during the remainder of their probation term, they'll get away with it. And I understand that you're only talking about low-level misdemeanor offenders, not violent felony offenders.<BR/>So, back to my question - should Travis County just let them go free and clear?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com