Auditor criticizes state supervision of parolees
By Mac Daniel, Globe Staff
The Massachusetts Parole Board has been lax in how it supervises parolees, failing to conduct bi-annual polygraphs of some paroled sex offenders and neglecting to collect more than $700,000 in supervision fees from parolees during the audit's timeline, according to a state audit released today.
The audit also found that 97 percent of parolees were delinquent with child support payments, with 550 parolees owing more than $13.7 million. None had their parole revoked because of these violations despite the maintenance of child support being a condition of parole.
“The Parole Board has a responsibility to provide the maximum level of supervision necessary to ensure that released criminal offenders are not a threat to the community,” said state Auditor Joseph DeNucci. “The board has made some progress in responding to my recommendations, but must continue to strengthen its practices so that it can fulfill this critical public safety responsibility.”
In addition, the audit found that the board could not provide evidence that 26 parolees who had tested positive for drugs were re-tested within the 30-day period, as required by the board’s regulations.
Finally, the audit found parole officers in the field did not follow board policy by re-assessing supervision levels every six months.
Of the 29 parolees whose case files were reviewed, the audit found none had their supervision levels reassessed.
The parole board is made up of seven full-time members appointed by the Governor.
