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North Country Sen. Griffo would limit early release of violent felons

Posted 6/3/15

State Senator Joseph Griffo says Senate-passed legislation he authored would prohibit violent felony offenders from being released from prison early if there is convincing evidence that the inmate …

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North Country Sen. Griffo would limit early release of violent felons

Posted

State Senator Joseph Griffo says Senate-passed legislation he authored would prohibit violent felony offenders from being released from prison early if there is convincing evidence that the inmate would be an imminent threat to society.

Griffo, who represents Massena and Potsdam, introduced the bill in response to the 2011 sexual assault and murder of 68-year-old Linda Turner at the motel she owned in North Utica. Turner’s brutal death occurred tragically after her killer, repeat rapist Robert Blainey, had been released early from prison despite his own admission that “Society is safer with me in prison.”

Although the state Board of Parole believed that Blainey should not have been released from prison, the Parole Board did not have any legal authority to hold him any longer: Blainey was required to serve only two-thirds of his indeterminate sentence of 12 ½ to 25 years due to the merit time he accumulated for being well-behaved in prison.

Under current state law, the Parole Board had no option but to release Blainey as long as he signed the terms for his conditional release, even though he warned the board he may re-offend if sent back to Oneida County.

“Linda Turner’s killer made very clear that he was a ticking time bomb who never should have been allowed back into society, but the state Parole Board’s hands were tied,” Griffo said. “It is unconscionable that the state Parole Board could believe an inmate is dangerous, yet have no choice but to watch that person walk back out on the street without serving their full sentence. We have a duty to our community and victims of crimes to incarcerate violent individuals for as long as legally possible, and this proposed legislation would allow the discretion to ensure that no threat is set loose before their time is up.”

Senator Griffo’s legislation has now been referred to the Assembly for further action.