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Patrick to push for merger of parole, probation systems

Print | Comments () Posted by Roy Greene January 25, 2011 04:40 PM

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By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff

Governor Deval Patrick today proposed merging the troubled state Probation Department and the embattled Parole Board, putting them both under his control, and slashing their budgets.

In doing so, he was pushing ahead with his long-stated goal of combining the agencies and seizing control of them, as part of what he calls a comprehensive plan to better monitor prisoners before and after their release.

But the proposal, which would create a new Department of Re-entry and Community Supervision in the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, sets the stage for a major battle with legislative leaders and the state’s top judges, who have resisted calls to transfer the Probation Department from the judiciary to the executive branch.

Under Patrick’s plan, unveiled in a press release today, not only would the probation and parole systems be combined under his command, their budgets would be cut by 9 percent, saving $14 million next year.

“We need an effective and accountable re-entry program for those leaving the criminal justice system,” Patrick said in a statement. “Combining probation and parole, and requiring supervision after release, takes the best practices from other states to assure both public safety and cost savings.”

Patrick was also stepping out ahead of a commission – which he established with House and Senate leaders – that was supposed to offer recommendations on how to resolve the power struggle and other problems plaguing the Probation Department. That commission is expected to release its findings later this week or early next week.

The governor said in his statement that he will wait to file his bill combining the parole and probation systems until after the commission has made its recommendations.

Patrick said he will also file legislation eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offenses that do not involve guns or children, giving judges discretion to set sentences in those cases.